Showdown

Syrian Forces Plan Aleppo Assault

Pro-regime paper warns of “battle of all battles.”

As fighting continues in Aleppo, Syria’s commercial capital, government forces may be gearing up for a massive attack. Fighting began in the city after rebel fighters launched an assault earlier in July. Government forces continued shelling rebel strongholds in the city on Thursday, but a security source said that special forces had been deployed to the edges of the city in preparation for an all-out assault on Friday or Saturday and a rebel spokesman said they “expect a major offensive at any time.”A pro-regime newspaper called the looming fight the “battle of all battles,” and citing a diplomatic source said, “Aleppo will be the last battle waged by the Syrian army to crush the terrorists and after that Syria will emerge from the crisis.”