Aleppo bears brunt of fight over fragmented Syria

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http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/yyl.BueSSfS0L97dKVitiQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTg2O3E9NzU7dz0xMzA-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2014-03-25T060838Z_2_CBREA2O0GX600_RTROPTP_2_SYRIA-CRISIS.JPG (http://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/aleppo-bears-brunt-fight-over-fragmented-syria-060525459.html)(The identity of the reporter has been withheld for security reasons) ALEPPO, Syria (Reuters) - Aleppo is central to President Bashar al-Assad's goal of rescuing a viable state from the ruins of Syria; "We told them every shell (they fire) equals five barrel bombs," said Amar, a local policeman in the city, who argued that any civilians hit by the highly destructive improvised ******* deserved it for tolerating "terrorists". "They didn't believe us and they continued launching shells, so the army responded with a pounding of barrel bombs." Almost two years after rebels grabbed half of Syria's biggest city, they are on the defensive, with government forces advancing on three sides. If Assad can retake Aleppo, he would be back in control of Syria's three largest cities, a bulwark for the Mediterranean provinces of Latakia and Tartous which form the heartland of his mi**rity Alawite sect.




أكثر... (http://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/aleppo-bears-brunt-fight-over-fragmented-syria-060525459.html)