Syrian Forces Continue Aleppo Bombing Campaign

Posted September 24th, 2012 at 10:35 am (UTC-5)
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Syrian activists say government warplanes again bombed the country's commercial capital early Monday, killing five people including three children.

The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the opposition Local Coordination Committees said the early morning strikes destroyed two buildings in the Maadi district in southern Aleppo. Amateur video claimed to show survivors and others digging through the rubble for victims.

In Damascus, Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoabi said the rebels are headed for defeat.

“It is only a matter of time, and it won't be long. We are heading for a definite victory and it will be achieved very soon. Anyone who is betting against this (victory) whether military, political or security, will fail and is stupid, an idiot or a conspirator.''

Video from Homs, shown on the Al Jazeera television network, showed smoke rising from parts of the city, amid reports of more shelling and fighting there.

The violence takes place as the United Nations' and Arab League joint envoy for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, is to brief the U.N. Security Council on his recent talks in the region. Brahimi visited Syria this month, meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and opposition representatives.

The Syrian conflict is expected to be one of the biggest issues when the United Nations General Assembly gets underway Tuesday in New York.

Meanwhile, there some indications international efforts are starting to make a difference, including those by the U.N.'s World Food Program in Homs.

Country Director Muhannad Hadi says despite the ongoing violence, the WFP remains determined.

“This is one of the areas in Homs that sustained a lot of damage. WFP provides food assistance to the people who live there and will provide more assistance to the people who decide to return.''

The WFP estimates 223,000 people are relying on its help as they live in shelters and mosques.

On Saturday, U.N. and Arab League envoy Brahimi and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon discussed how to address what a U.N. statement called the “appalling levels of violence” in Syria. They said they hoped the U.N. session will be an opportunity to increase support for addressing the grave humanitarian situation and its impact on neighboring countries.

Eighteen months of fighting between Syrian government forces and rebels opposed to Mr. Assad has left about 20,000 people dead.