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What's behind Syrian regime's latest claims on Aleppo strikes?

While the Syrian regime claims that its airstrikes are carried out against Jabhat al-Nusra’s military positions, the reality on the ground shows that it is targeting residential neighborhoods.
Men inspect damage after an air strike on Aleppo's rebel-held al-Shaar neighbourhood, Syria June 8, 2016. REUTERS/Abdalrhman Ismail - RTSGM5D
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ALEPPO, Syria — While the Syrian regime’s air raids follow in succession, targeting residential neighborhoods in opposition-controlled areas in Aleppo, the regime is circulating news that these airstrikes are targeting Jabhat al-Nusra’s military positions in Aleppo city. Fighter jets, for instance, targeted the Seif al-Dawla neighborhood of Aleppo on July 2, killing four people and wounding others.

According to Brett McGurk, the US representative to the anti-Islamic State coalition, these raids are carried out against residential neighborhoods, field hospitals and civil defense stations in the city. He told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on June 28 that the Syrian regime’s air force is a “criminal enterprise” dropping barrel bombs on civilians, while pretending that it is attacking Jabhat al-Nusra. He said that if the regime continues to target civilians, a favorable environment for terrorist organizations will be generated.

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