Syria army claims control of Aleppo rebel redoubt

DAMASCUS, Syria – Syria said its troops seized a rebel-held Aleppo district on Wednesday after storming it and “annihilating” most of the insurgents, as a long-threatened ground assault on the key city was launched.

The rebels promptly denied the claim, acknowledging that a “barbaric and savage attack” on the neighbourhood of Salaheddin was under way but later saying they had recaptured much of what they lost.

The offensive came as Amnesty International raised concerns about the plight of civilians in the commercial capital and warned both sides they would be held accountable for attacks on residential areas.

Early in the afternoon, state news agency SANA said “our brave armed forces have taken full control of the district of Salaheddin” and “inflicted heavy losses on groups of armed terrorists, killing or wounding a large number of them.”

Dozens of rebels were captured, including foreigners, and others had surrendered, SANA said. It said troops had seized a large number of arms used by rebels “to terrify the inhabitants and to murder members of the forces of order.” – Agence-France Presse