Situation worsening in militant-besieged Syria towns
Iran Press TV
Sat Jan 10, 2015 11:7PM
The situation is worsening in the militant-besieged Nubul and al-Zahraa towns on the outskirts of the northwestern Syria city of Aleppo, Press TV reports.
The towns, which have been under the siege of foreign-backed militants for over three years, have been the constant targets of large-scale attacks by terrorists with al-Nusra Front -- al-Qaeda's official offshoot in Syria -- in recent days.
Nubul is defended by units of the Syrian army and local fighters from the Shia community, which has lost over 600 young men in the past three years.
Its 30,000-strong population is facing a mass killing if the Takfiri militants take control.
However, local resistance groups and pro-government militia are trying to fend off militant attacks.
"They say in some TV channels that Nabul has fallen. But here I am right in the middle of the town's square. We have stopped their advance and they will never take us," said local fighter Ahmad.
"We are the fighters of Nabul and al-Zahra. We are standing firm despite rockets and the blockade. God willing, we'll fight the terrorists till the last drop of our blood," said local commander Ali.
Syria has been grappling with a deadly crisis since March 2011. The violence fueled by Takfiri groups has so far claimed the lives of over 200,000 people, according to reports. New figures show that over 76,000 people, including thousands of children, lost their lives in Syria last year.
The Western powers and their regional allies - especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey - are supporting the militants operating in Syria.
HN/NN
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