Russian-backed Syrian-Hizballah forces tighten noose on Aleppo

One week into the Syrian “ceasefire” finds Syrian, Hizballah and Iranian forces tightening their encirclement of the rebel-held northeastern districts of the major town of Aleppo, under close Russian air support. DEBKAfile: The main rebel militia holding these districts is the Al Qaeda affiliate the Nusra Front. Hoping to ease the pressure, Nusra Wednesday announced it was halting combat in all parts of the city. But this did not result in any let-up in the fighting.