Aleppo residents look to liberation of city: Western Analyst

A US-based analyst says residents in Aleppo look to the Syrian army to liberate the city from militant control under which Takfiri terrorists have killed civilians and looted their belongings.

“The Syrian people want their government to cleanse the country of militants who are being supported by the United States and its regional allies,” James W. Dean, managing editor and columnist of the Veterans Today, told Press TV’s “The Debate” program on Thursday night.

Syrian government forces and allied troops have been tightening the noose on the main militant enclave in Aleppo since last week.

Dean said the government of President Bashar al-Assad and his army have kept the country from being carved up by Western supporters of terrorists.

Syrian people, he said, are well aware what would happen to them if the Takfiris could strengthen their grip on the country.

Dean hoped the fight against Takfiri groups will continue to pave the way for peace talks and “terrorists will melt away.”

The journalist, however, warned that foreign-backed militants may be used in other countries where “Western powers decide to wreak havoc and adhere to their regime change policy.”

On Thursday, the Syrian army opened humanitarian corridors in Aleppo to help residents leave the city where foreign-backed militants are holed up amid a government push to retake the city.

The decision was taken after the US military did not give information on the location of what it calls “moderate” militants in the city, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.

Russia had asked the US to give coordinates of the so-called Free Syrian Army to spare them from attacks on al-Nusra Front militants in Syria’s once largest city.

The Syrian government has air-dropped leaflets in Aleppo, asking residents to cooperate with the army and calling on militants to surrender. President Assad said he would pardon the militants who turned in their weapons.

Dozens of gunmen laid down their weapons and surrendered after the Syrian army took control of the Bani Zeid neighborhood in Aleppo on Thursday, the official SANA news agency said.