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Syria rebels blow up Aleppo hotel used as barracks by government forces Syria rebels blow up Aleppo hotel used as barracks by government forces
(about 4 hours later)
Scores of troops were killed on Thursday when insurgents detonated explosives packed into a tunnel they had dug under an Aleppo hotel that the Syrian military were using as a barracks.Scores of troops were killed on Thursday when insurgents detonated explosives packed into a tunnel they had dug under an Aleppo hotel that the Syrian military were using as a barracks.
The attack was the biggest militants have launched in the western half of Syria's largest city, which is under regime control, underscoring that they are still able to strike well inside government territory despite months of bombing that has obliterated much of the rebel-controlled east.The attack was the biggest militants have launched in the western half of Syria's largest city, which is under regime control, underscoring that they are still able to strike well inside government territory despite months of bombing that has obliterated much of the rebel-controlled east.
The insurgents dug a tunnel thought to be at least 400 metres long towards the Carlton Citadel hotel from a frontline in the Old City district that splits Aleppo roughly down the middle.The insurgents dug a tunnel thought to be at least 400 metres long towards the Carlton Citadel hotel from a frontline in the Old City district that splits Aleppo roughly down the middle.
The hotel stood near the edge of the ancient stone fortress from which it takes its name and has been used as a garrison for the past two years. Several buildings nearby were also damaged, but the fortress walls are believed to have escaped unscathed. The hotel stood near the edge of the ancient stone fortress from which it takes its name and has been used as a garrison for the past two years. Several buildings nearby were damaged, but the fortress walls are believed to have escaped unscathed.
The Islamic Front, one of three main opposition groups fighting to remove Bashar al-Assad as Syrian leader, claimed responsibility for the attack. The group posted an online video of the explosion, which sent an enormous plume of brown smoke and ash billowing over the city centre.The Islamic Front, one of three main opposition groups fighting to remove Bashar al-Assad as Syrian leader, claimed responsibility for the attack. The group posted an online video of the explosion, which sent an enormous plume of brown smoke and ash billowing over the city centre.
Such sights have been common place in eastern Aleppo in recent months, with helicopters dropping huge improvised bombs on residential areas on most days since January and levelling entire neighbourhoods. Such sights have been common in eastern Aleppo in recent months, with helicopters dropping huge improvised bombs on residential areas on most days since January and levelling entire neighbourhoods. The west of the city, however, has remained largely secure in the hands of the regime and had so far suffered relatively light damage despite more than three years of war.
The west of the city, however, has remained largely secure in the hands of the regime and had so far suffered relatively light damage despite more than three years of war.
Unable to penetrate regime lines, rebel groups in the Old City have increasingly resorted to digging tunnels as a means of striking at government forces. A smaller bomb killed several Syrian soldiers close to the frontline in February.Unable to penetrate regime lines, rebel groups in the Old City have increasingly resorted to digging tunnels as a means of striking at government forces. A smaller bomb killed several Syrian soldiers close to the frontline in February.
The destruction of the Old City, listed by Unesco as a world heritage site, has been extensive. Once home to one of the Middle East's oldest market places, which wove between buildings that had stood unchanged for more than 800 years, much of the district is now a maze of desolation and death. The destruction of the Old City, listed by Unesco as a world heritage site, has been extensive. Once home to one of the Middle East's oldest marketplaces, which wove between buildings that had stood unchanged for more than 800 years, much of the district is now a maze of desolation and death.
Syria's insurgents have signalled in recent weeks that they will refocus their energies on Aleppo, which before the war was the economic powerhouse of the country.Syria's insurgents have signalled in recent weeks that they will refocus their energies on Aleppo, which before the war was the economic powerhouse of the country.
The renewed attention comes as a rebel withdrawal from Homs, 200 miles south, nears an end. Once the so-called capital of the revolution, Homs is now firmly in the grip of Syrian forces which, along with their proxies, gradually wore down remaining rebel groups through bombardment and siege. The renewed attention comes as a rebel withdrawal from Homs, 200 miles south, nears an end. Once the so-called capital of the revolution, Homs is now firmly in the grip of Syrian forces that, along with their proxies, gradually wore down remaining rebel groups through bombardment and siege.
Insurgents now control only the Waer district of the city. Negotiations continue to secure their withdrawal, which would give Syrian forces firm control over the vital heartland of the country, a stretch of land from the Golan Heights to Latakia on the north-west coast.Insurgents now control only the Waer district of the city. Negotiations continue to secure their withdrawal, which would give Syrian forces firm control over the vital heartland of the country, a stretch of land from the Golan Heights to Latakia on the north-west coast.
The renewed rebel interest in Aleppo comes as government forces are also believed to be focusing their efforts on reclaiming the whole city. Rebels stormed Aleppo in July 2011 at the same time as they tried to take Damascus. After sweeping gains in the early days, they have not been able to advance and have instead been confined to pockets of the east through relentless regime bombing and infighting with jihadists. The rebel interest in Aleppo comes as government forces are believed to be focusing their efforts on reclaiming the whole city. Rebels stormed Aleppo in July 2011 at the same time as they tried to take Damascus. After sweeping gains in the early days, they have not been able to advance and have instead been confined to pockets of the east through relentless regime bombing and infighting with jihadis.
The looming showdown in Aleppo is likely to be a decisive battle in the war. Until recently, stalemate or slow mutually-assured destruction had been a likely outcome, but increased co-ordination between regime forces and their allies - Iran, Hezbollah, Russia and a large Iraqi militia - has changed the face of the battlefield. The looming showdown in Aleppo is likely to be a decisive battle in the war. Until recently, stalemate or slow mutually assured destruction had been a likely outcome, but increased co-ordination between regime forces and their allies - Iran, Hezbollah, Russia and a large Iraqi militia – has changed the face of the battlefield. By contrast, opposition groups are still fighting as separate militias, one western official said.
By contrast, opposition groups are still fighting as separate militias, one western official said.
"The support the regime gets is effective and strategic and has been deployed under a single plan, with a single leadership," the official said. "Support for the rebels is anything but efficient or strategic. It pursues their backers' own political goals.""The support the regime gets is effective and strategic and has been deployed under a single plan, with a single leadership," the official said. "Support for the rebels is anything but efficient or strategic. It pursues their backers' own political goals."