Liberating Syria Requires Winning The Battle For Aleppo

© AFP 2016/ BARAA AL-HALABI

After farcical ceasefire in Syria collapsed, a charade because America never negotiates in good faith, systematically breaching virtually all deals arranged, Syria and Russia began heavy bombardment of Aleppo areas held by US-backed terrorists.

They remain ongoing to liberate the entire city, Syrian ground forces advancing, inflicting heavy losses on terrorist fighters, retaking the Handarat Palestinian refugee camp and surrounding areas.

On Saturday, Syrian military sources said large numbers of Fatah al-Sham terrorists surrendered, adding:

“The growing trend of surrender among the terrorists in the Eastern districts of Aleppo has caused Fatah al-Sham’s commanders to take preventive measures across the militant-held neighborhoods in the city.”

“Fatah al-Sham has deployed more monitoring checkpoints across the Eastern districts of Aleppo to confront those militants who try to surrender to the government forces and takes tough action against those who intend to lay down arms.”

Fars News said Washington deployed unknown numbers of special forces to “at least 7 bases in Northern Syria…Qamishli, Ain Issa, Kobane, Hasaka and Tal Abyadh regions.”

“No official report has been released yet about the exact number of the US forces and weapons transferred to the above mentioned bases, but field sources have reported observing armored vehicles, semi-heavy weapons, TOW missiles, thermal cameras, advanced wireless devices and night goggles in them.”

US direct and indirect operations in Syria flagrantly violate international, constitutional and US statute laws pertaining to war.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a despicable  statement through his spokesman, blaming Syria for defending its sovereignty against US-backed terrorists, saying:

He’s “appalled by the chilling military escalation. Since the announcement two days ago by the Syrian Army of an offensive to capture eastern Aleppo, there have been repeated reports of airstrikes involving the use of incendiary weapons and advanced munitions such as bunker buster bombs.”

Throughout his tenure, Ban never once condemned US aggression, complicit with its allies, responsible for massive loss of life, vast destruction, and the most serious refugee crisis since WW II. Instead he blames victims.

His arrogance and failure to uphold UN Charter principles makes him complicit in US-led high crimes – indifferent to unspeakable human suffering wrought by imperial wars.

On Sunday around midday New York time, at the behest of America, Britain and France, another worthless Security Council session will convene on Syria – accomplishing nothing like all previous times, other than giving imperial diplomats a chance to blame Syria for their crimes of war and against humanity.

On Saturday, John Kerry ignored US-backed terrorism against Syrian sovereignty and appalling high crimes against its people, duplicitously saying:

“I want to make this clear. What is happening in Aleppo today is unacceptable. It is beyond the pale.”

“If people are serious about wanting a peaceful outcome to this war, then they should cease and desist bombing innocent women and children, cease cutting off water and laying siege in medieval terms to an entire community, and work with the international community in order to be able to bring peace to people who are starving – literally starving, but also starving for the possibilities of a future without chlorine dropping on them out of the sky, barrel bombs, and indiscriminate bombing.”

“And Russia needs to set an example, not a precedent – an unacceptable precedent, I might add, for the entire world. I know we will as a group have more to say about this later today, so I’ll leave it at that.”

Empires never admit culpability for their high crimes – instead shift blame on victims. The pattern repeats at home and abroad.