Rebels claim they're winning decisive battle for Aleppo
- 12 years ago
Rebels claim they're now in control of a central square in Aleppo, as the decisive battle for Syria's second-largest city intensifies.
One rebel commander said his forces have security checkpoints set up throughout the city, as the fight tips in their favour.
The rebels say troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have been forced to retreat.
But the battle has been bloody, with many civilians reportedly trapped in the crossfire.
(SOUNDBITE)(Arabic) REBEL COMMANDER ABU ADHAN SAYING:
"They are firing at us, we have been hit by rockets, I can show them to you. They fired at us here in the heart of the city, they hit anywhere - they don't care about the civilians."
The battle for Aleppo is seen as a crucial turning point in the bloody 17-month-old uprisings against the Assad regime.
Sarah Sheffer, Reuters
One rebel commander said his forces have security checkpoints set up throughout the city, as the fight tips in their favour.
The rebels say troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have been forced to retreat.
But the battle has been bloody, with many civilians reportedly trapped in the crossfire.
(SOUNDBITE)(Arabic) REBEL COMMANDER ABU ADHAN SAYING:
"They are firing at us, we have been hit by rockets, I can show them to you. They fired at us here in the heart of the city, they hit anywhere - they don't care about the civilians."
The battle for Aleppo is seen as a crucial turning point in the bloody 17-month-old uprisings against the Assad regime.
Sarah Sheffer, Reuters