Syrian Crisis At Crucial Juncture As Aleppo May Change Hands

With more military gains made in the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo, Syrian government is determined to retake it completely and other Syrian territories currently under the control of the rebels.

Speaking to the pro-government al-Watan newspaper, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Wednesday that "the decision to liberate all of Syria has been taken, including Aleppo."

In a massive offensive launched more than two weeks ago, Syrian troops have already recaptured 80 percent of the rebel-held areas in the eastern part of the city.

Amid the backdrop that the IS has been losing ground in the capital of Damascus and the central city of Homs, Aleppo is widely deemed to be their last straw. As al-Assad said, after the liberation of Aleppo, neither the rebels nor the West, which Syria has accused of backing the rebels, would have real cards to bet on.

"Aleppo will completely change the course of the battles in Syria, and would mean the failure of the international, regional and foreign schemes," he said.

Syria's Minister of Reconciliation Ali Haidar on Wednesday described the military advance in Aleppo as "strategic and qualitative," which "will make a huge impact on both the military and political levels."

Earlier, Syrian government said it now rejects any cease-fire for Aleppo, which it fears would be used by the rebels as a chance to regroup.

China and Russia on Monday vetoed a United Nations Security Council draft resolution calling for a seven-day humanitarian truce in the northern Syrian city.

Over 30,000 civilians have fled eastern Aleppo toward the government-controlled west of the city over the past two weeks. Humanitarian organizations have raised alarm about the situation of 250,000 people living in eastern Aleppo.

Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN, said China remained committed to an early political solution to the Syrian crisis, which works on "the four tracks of resumption of cease-fire, political peace talks, cooperation in counter-terrorism and humanitarian relief."

On the Security Council draft resolution, Syrian political analyst Hmaidi Abdullah said it might offer the rebels "a chance to regroup and empower themselves."

Another analyst, Taleb Ibrahim, believed it would also distract Syrian troops from advancing further into the rebel-held areas.

The draft resolution without full consultation was not conducive to improving the situation in Syria, Xie Xiaoyan, China's special envoy on the Syrian issue said during his latest visit to Damascus on Wednesday.

He called for unity in the Security Council as the Syrian crisis entered a crucial and sensitive stage, saying countries concerned should avoid creating disputes and complicating the issue.

Source: Xinhua