Rebels Seek to Re-take City of Aleppo

Fierce fighting is raging in and around Aleppo, Syria’s second largest city, as rebel forces seek to dislodge regime troops who have been in control for the past two months. Making the conflict more confusing and difficult, a clear division is emerging between what are being called “moderate” rebel forces and fighters aligned with terrorist and Islamist organizations. France has urged the former to assume control of territory that has come under the control of the latter. The Western nations are backing fighters associated with the Supreme Military Council which will be the recipient of arms being provided to the rebels by Western governments in an effort to prevent weapons from falling into the hands of terrorists even though the Islamist and Salafi forces which openly call for an Islamic state to be established after Assad is overthrown appear to be making more headway against President Al-Assad’s troops. Meanwhile, in Doha, US Secretary of State John Kerry has reiterated that the Obama administration is now committed to increase its support for the rebel fighters but would not elaborate on what that means.