Thousands of Iranian soldiers arrive in Syria to attack Aleppo

Assad regime forces and allied Iranian forces and fighters from the Hezbollah militia are preparing for a ground offensive against the liberated city of Aleppo, backed by Russian airstrikes, media reports revealed.

Reuters news agency quoted two senior officials familiar with the plans for the area, who asked to remain anonymous, as saying yesterday: “Thousands of Iranian troops arrived to take part in the ground offensives in support of President Bashar Al-Assad.”

The same alliance is planning to expand the offensive it launched last week which is targeting cities not under Al-Assad’s control in the Hama province further west.

One of the officials said: “The big battle preparations in that area are clear. There is a large mobilisation of the Syrian army … elite Hezbollah fighters, and thousands of Iranians who arrived in stages in recent days.”

The second official, who is close to the Syrian regime, said: “The decision to launch the battle of Aleppo has been taken … It is no longer hidden that thousands of Iranians are now in Syria and their role is fundamental in the battles in Idlib, Al-Ghab and Aleppo.”

Control of Aleppo and the surrounding province is divided amongst the Syrian government and a number of opposition factions, while Daesh controls some of the rural areas near the city.