Wall Street Journal: Syria Regime and Aleppo Rebels Gird for Battle
President Bashar al-Assad’s forces and opposition fighters are massing on the city’s long front line
The front line that divides Aleppo is marked by sandbags and overturned vehicles and zigzags through the cobblestone streets of the Old City’s historic souk. Despite years of bombardment by the Syrian regime and rebel counterattacks, the line has barely moved.
The warring sides are now hunkered down and massing on either side of the five-mile-long frontier, girding for intensified battles for control of the city, a goal that has eluded both Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the rebels since Aleppo was split in 2012.
The rebels are outmatched by the air power and military might of Syria and Russia. But regime ground forces haven’t proven adept at the urban warfare required to battle street-by-street and recapture the entire city.
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MIDDLE EAST
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Iraqis demand food from troops in newly cleared Mosul areas.
ISIS fires near Mosul sicken 1,500 people, U.N. says.
Both sides accused of abuses in battle for Mosul.
Kerry announces Yemen ceasefire over objections of government.
Obama: Trump likely not to seek Iran deal changes.
ASIA
Taliban, Islamic State both claim to have shot down helicopter in central Afghanistan.
ICC claims US may have committed war crimes in Afghanistan.
New Zealand evacuates quake-hit town, fears of Wellington building collapse.
North Korean government hasn’t yet told its people that Trump won U.S. presidency: Report.
Hong Kong court rules pro-independence politicians barred from legislature.
Tourists struggling to find cash in India. Anger grows among cash-strapped Indians.
China revives ‘comrade’ in drive for Communist party discipline.
AFRICA
Some 14 million in northeast Nigeria may need humanitarian aid in 2017: U.N..
Niger Delta Avengers strike again.
Kenya sets fire to 5,000 illegal weapons in crime fight.
Rights group urges troops for Burundi to prevent genocide.
Up to 600,000 people are short of food in Burundi: WFP.
Death sentence of Egyptian ex-President Mohamed Morsi overturned. Egypt: Mohammed Morsi death sentence overturned.
South Africa's opposition files complaint against Zuma over corruption.
'Marshall Plan' for Africa meets with skepticism.
Pew survey: Africans optimistic despite corruption and economy woes.
EUROPE
Obama seeks to reassure European leaders as final international tour gets underway.
Britain hopes to raise NATO with Trump at early engagement: PM May's spokeswoman.
Russia doubts in Trump's promise to work with Moscow in Syria: Ifax.
EU ministers keep calm and improve defense capabilities.
NATO says Crimea still a concern, day after Trump-Putin call.
Russian Economy Minister Ulyukayev charged with $2m bribe. Russian economy minister under house arrest, charged with taking $2mn bribe from oil giant Rosneft.
French government seeking new extension to emergency powers: Valls.
Poland to build territorial defense force by 2019.
Leaked memo says UK government has no plan for Brexit. Britain's Brexit plan? There is no plan, leaked memo says.
Only 13 percent of recent refugees in Germany have found work: survey.
AMERICAS
Trump, Pence meeting in New York on Cabinet picks.
Barack Obama warns of rise of 'crude nationalism'.
Colombia's new peace accord is final, will not be changed: government.
Colombia president to have prostate cancer tests in U.S..
Dominican Republic floods displace more than 20,000.
Cuba pardons 787 inmates after Pope's call for mercy.
Mexico braces for Trump's deportation policy.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
'Islamic State' reportedly training terrorists to enter Europe as asylum seekers.
NYPD boosts security for Thanksgiving parade; Islamic State calls it an 'excellent target'.
German raids: Police target DWR Islamist group. Police make raids against suspected 'IS' supporters across 10 states in Germany.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
Global stocks as focus slowly turns away from Trump.
Top tax-writing Republican says TPP trade deal not dead in Congress.
Facebook’s fake news crisis deepens. Google, Facebook move to clamp down on fake news sites.
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