A still image taken from drone footage purports to show an airstrike in an Assad neighbourhood of Aleppo on Saturday Ahrar al-Sham, militant video, via APPresident Putin will launch a full-scale military assault on the Syrian city of Aleppo as early as this week, according to western intelligence. The Russian leader plans to exploit a political hiatus in Washington during the presidential election and its aftermath to secure a decisive victory in the rebel-held east of the city by the middle of January for his ally, President Assad. Moscow’s only aircraft carrier, which is travelling to a strike position in the eastern Mediterranean, will be used to enhance Russian firepower over Aleppo in support of the Syrian regime, according to the intelligence analysis, which has…

Source: The Times October 31, 2016 00:11 UTC