Filed by KOSU News in World News.
July 28, 2012

Syrian rebels are taking a pounding in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city but they continue to hold some neighborhoods where they’ve taken control. VOA reports the Syrian government is warning of “the mother of all battles” in the commercial hub, home to millions of people. Russia says a tragedy is “imminent.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a group based in Britain, also reports fighting in several Aleppo neighborhoods; the group concurs that this will become “a decisive battle.” Rebels claim to hold sectors of the city, which explains why the government dispatched more Syrian troops there this week, supported by helicopter gunships and fighter planes.

Although the rebels have gained much ground, it’s unclear if they’ll be able to hold any of it. The BBC’s Ian Pannell is there and writes, “Both sides are determined to control this place, but the overwhelming firepower belongs to President Assad’s men, and they are prepared to use it to retake Aleppo.”

They don’t have too go far to find each other. The Guardian’s Luke Harding is in Aleppo, too. and tweets, “North of the city rebels and army base just 1.5km apart”. So far, according to Reuters, “neither side has managed to gain the upper hand.” [Copyright 2012 National Public Radio]