Syrian rebels threaten to target Shiite villages in Aleppo
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Syrian rebels in the northern province of Aleppo on Monday threatened to seize two Shiite Muslim villages that back President Bashar Assad unless they surrendered to the opposition. Activists say both Nubl and Zahra villages had been reinforced by Assad's allies in the increasingly sectarian war, among them fighters from Iran and Lebanon's powerful Shiite guerrilla group, Hezbollah.
"We announce our intention to liberate Nubl and Zahra from the regime and its shabbiha (pro-Assad militia), and from the Hezbollah and Iranian elements," the rebels said in an Internet video. (Reuters)
