Syria Conflict: Rebels Gird for Showdown in Aleppo

Rebels in Aleppo, Syria’s most populous city, are girding for a showdown. Host Aaron Schachter speaks with reporter Adrien Jaulmes inside Aleppo, and New Yorker staff writer Jon Lee Anderson on the outskirts of the city.

Jaulmes says the rebels have been honing their tactics.

“The regime sent some tanks against them. After a few hours the rebels managed to destroy three and capture one, which is not bad. And we’ve not seen any tanks since then,” says Jaulmes. “Tanks are very impressive weapons but as soon as you know how to fight them – and these guys apparently have learned that – you can face them.”

The New Yorker’s Jon Lee Anderson says local support for the rebels has been guarded.

“it wasn’t exactly like they were throwing garlands of flowers down in front of the fighters. I think in part because they are very aware of the danger yet to come,” Anderson says.

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Aaron Schachter: I’m Aaron Schachter. This is The World, a co-production of the BBC world service, PRI and WGBH in Boston. The stand off continues in Aleppo, Syria’s most populous city. Rebels there are girding for a showdown with government forces and there are fears that civilians will get caught up in the fighting. Adrien Jaulmes reports for the French newspaper Le Figaro. We reached him in Aleppo. He says the rebels are out gunned but their tactics have been working well.

Adrien Jaulmes: They don’t have heavy anti tank weapons, they don’t have anti aircraft weapons, but to their credit the regime sent some tanks against them and after a few hours the rebels managed to destroy three and capture one, which is not bad and we’ve not seen any tanks since then. So, tanks are very impressive weapons but as soon as you know how to fight them, and these guys have apparently have learned that, you can’t phase them, and let’s remember too that the city is the perfect ground for instant warfares.

Schachter: Sounds like you’re saying if they have any chance at all, if the rebels have any chance at all against the government army, it would be in a place like Aleppo.

Jaulmes: Well let’s remember that military aspect is not the only one. Well, this is revolution so the message from the tanks and from the regime is go back home and go back to where we were before the revolution and otherwise we’re going to kill you. And the rebels said no we don’t care to the regime, if they, well you’re going to kill us but we won’t recognize you as the government anymore. So the rebels are, you know, counting on the fact that they’re extending and standing their ground enough already to beat the regime. Most of the Syrian army troops are simply consripts, and the rebels are, they well, you know, these guys don’t really want to fight. So, are they right? I don’t know.

Schachter: Adrien, thank you so much.

Jaulmes: Pleasure, bye.

Schachter: Adrien Jaulmes a correspondent for Le Figaro in Aleppo, Syria. We also spoke to John Lee Anderson, a staff writer for the New Yorker. He’s on the outskirts of Aleppo, and he says the rebels are preparing for a government assault on the rebel held parts of the city.

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