Base 46 was
supposed to fall in a matter of days but rebels have failed to take it after a
two-week siege of the Syrian army barracks which is a strategic prize in the
battle for Aleppo
..
Causes of the
failure to capture the base range from shortage of ammunition among rebels to
differences between commanders of various rebel battalions, say sources in the
rebel groups.
…
…
The threat of
MiGs is seen as the main reason for the army holding on to the base. "And
the lack of ammunition among our men," explained a rebel commander,
speaking on condition of anonymity.
…
According to the
rebel commander, 20 soldiers from the base defected last Friday and gave
accounts of low morale and hunger among the 300 to 350 men defending Base 46.
"According
to their testimony...many want to surrender but Alawite officers have
threatened to kill them if they make any such move," he said, referring to
the minority Shiite sect of which Assad is a member in Sunni-majority Syria
-AFP
