Russian Artillery Engaged in Aleppo as Dozens Killed in "Rebel" Assault

Russian artillery units were involved Wednesday in fighting in Syria's divided northern city of Aleppo in the fiercest ground clashes in a year between rebel groups and Assad regime forces in the area, which has suffered two weeks of blistering government airstrikes.

 It is the first time Russian ground troops have assisted Syrian government forces outside the coastal province of Latakia or at Palmyra, say rebel commanders. 

The development came as the State Department said the U.S. and Russia reached an agreement to extend a "cessation of hostilities" in Syria to Aleppo while acknowledging that "there have been reports of continued fighting in some locations."

Dozens were killed as rebels advanced into Syrian government-controlled western districts, according to political activists.  The insurgents were forced to withdraw after several hours of intense fighting.

The assault was mounted to disrupt regime forces, say rebel commanders who have long warned of a major offensive in the coming weeks to wrest back the battered insurgent-held districts of a city that remains a key battlefield prize for the government.  The clashes come amid diplomatic efforts in Berlin to stop the fighting.

The Western-favored Syrian National Coalition, the umbrella anti-Assad opposition group, accused Russia of deceiving the international community, arguing that Russian participation on the ground and in the air contradicts Moscow’s claims that it is eager for a resumption of a partial cease-fire agreed to in late February.......http://www.voanews.com/content/russian-artillery-engaged-in-aleppo-as-dozens-killed-during-rebel-assault/3315291.html
4/5/16