Thousands of Iranian troops join fight as war in Syria heads for bloodiest battle

The war in Syria was heading for one of its bloodiest confrontations yet as thousands of Iranian troops joined the battle for control of the city of Aleppo on Wednesday. Fighting is already raging on the outskirts of the city between rebel forces and Islamic State fighters, while the Syrian army readies launch a major offensive. In the past few days, Iranian and Hezbollah troops have been flooding in to join the Syrian forces in a drive to regain Aleppo. The besieged city, partly under control of the Syrian government, partly controlled by rebel forces and with IS fighters at its gates, is also being blasted daily in airstrikes by Russian jets.

The decision to launch the battle of Aleppo has been taken … It is no longer hidden that thousands of Iranians are now in Syria and their role is fundamental.

Syrian government official

Gains by Islamic State north of Aleppo are threatening the supply lines of rival rebels inside the city. The road used by Aleppo residents heading north to the Turkish border remained closed on Wednesday. "Today there are fierce battles between us and Daesh in Ahras, Tel Jabin, and rural northern Aleppo,“ said Hassan Haj Ali, head of the Liwa Suqour al-Jabal rebel group, using another name for Islamic State. Iranian troops will bolster one Syrian army offensive underway in Hama province and in preparation for another in the Aleppo area, officials said. In another sign of Iran’s central role in support of president Bashar al-Assad, a team of Iranian politicians arrived in Damascus on Wednesday, and pictures circulated on social media showing the head of the Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force, Qassem Soleimani, in western Syria.

We have an excellent supply of missiles. We will, God willing, move to attack, not just defence.

Fares Bayoush, head of the Fursan al-Haq rebel group