One of the unique scenes and occurred urgent cases even in many countries that has suffered from the results of civil war in its history is to find one united city where its districts has not been divided into two fighting near parts with only a wall to separate them just like that wall in south Africa or the famous wall of Berlin. Sometimes there may exist engagements lines of long distances that might reach ten KM; with snipers in each part hiding in opposite buildings in the two sides along this fire line.
Today Aleppo city has been divided into two parts; Aleppo citizens nowadays call the rebellion neighborhood “Eastern Aleppo” which are the neighborhoods held by opposition and Free Syrian Army; while western Aleppo is the neighborhoods held by regime forces till the moment. Despite the intensive shelling targeting Aleppo eastern neighborhoods with all the different kinds of heavy weapons including warplanes and helicopters, we find that civilians have not left them completely where unconfirmed statistics refer that inside liberated Aleppo city there are more than 300 thousand people who are threatened of siege at any moment for they count on one passage to and from the city particularly toward Aleppo western countryside where from it to complete Idlib province. That is why Aleppo citizens label this passage “Life Artery”. “Abo Laith Ayoby”, one of Alshaar citizens, said: “To me I do not consider the artery in my body to be the source of life for if it got cut then only me would die; I consider “Castelo” road the artery of life for thousands of Aleppo families”.
No doubt that regime is trying with every possible means to cut this only artery of Aleppo city so that the plan of forcing siege that regime has followed in Damascus and Homs countryside can be applied on Aleppo liberated neighborhoods. For this reason regime lately have been in the last months particularly after breaking siege on Nobol and Alzahraa towns ,working on escalating the raids and artillery shelling on the road besides being targeted by snipers by YPG that controls Sheikh-maksood neighborhood that has a view on Castelo road. Rebels consider YPG involved and participating with regime to siege civilians and military factions inside Eastern Aleppo by cutting the road.
In a report posted on the official website of “Russia Today”, there was an indication to the plans which regime is considering to achieve on field from a military aspect with the help of Russia; regime is considering continuing separating rebellion factions and rebels and forcing them to fight three battles in three fronts: regime army front, Kurdish Army and ISIL front.
The goal is controlling the eastern and northern parts in Aleppo city; and break the siege forced by opposition on Sheikh-maksood. In case the army achieved the goal then opposition factions will be either encircled inside the city between regime forces in Hindarat district in the east on one hand and Kurdish units in the Sheikh-maksood neighborhood in the west; or will be forced to withdraw to outside the city toward the north or west which explains that battles has been taking place for ten days again in Almallah. Here regime forces aim to advance to Castelo road to cut it.
For being the only passage, Free Syrian Army battalions are dying to defend Almallah front trying their best to keep it so it will not be the weak point which losing it will lead to cut Castelo road Aleppo artery; they are well aware how it is extremely dangerous of regime forces controlling completely Almallah that will cause siege on opposition neighborhoods inside the city.
By Fadi Abo Aljoud
Translated by Sabah Najem
#Syrian_Press_Center
Syrian Regime Forces.. An Eye on “Almallah” &The Other on “Castelo” Road
المقالات ذات الصلة
