Assad and Hezbollah forces clash in Aleppo

Several clashes have taken place in Aleppo between the Syrian regime army and Hezbollah militia. Dozens have been killed and wounded, reported the Huffington Post on Friday. Aircraft belonging to the regime have been targeting Hezbollah militiamen, noted the London-based Al-Sharq Al-Awsat.

Sources from the Syrian opposition said that the clashes erupted due to mutual accusations that troops had retreated in the face of the enemy and a subsequent exchange of insults between the two nominal allies. The clashes apparently led to a Syrian army officer and seven soldiers being killed; the army then retaliated against the Hezbollah forces.

According to the Huffington Post, a South-Lebanese news website said that the clashes were not the first, but what was new is the crisis of confidence between the allies. Hezbollah militiamen believe that the regime army has handed them over to the opposition several times.

Meanwhile, Sharif Shehadeh, a journalist sympathetic to the regime, used his Facebook page to criticise Hezbollah. “National sovereignty is a red line,” he said. “The decision is always for the Syrians and any differences with the other forces must be resolved quickly.” Addressing Hezbollah, he added: “My sons of Hezbollah, you came [to Syria] to help us not to rule us. I hope you review your role.”

However, in a video posted on YouTube, he somewhat bizarrely denied that he had said this. “These are the words of terrorists. The relations between Syria and Hezbollah are bigger than described. Hezbollah sacrificed its sons for the sake of the Syrian cause and to prevent terrorists and takfirists from entering Syria.”