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In Syria, Hizbullah Forces Appear Ready to Attack Rebels in Aleppo
(Washington Post) Loveday Morris - Thousands of Lebanese Hizbullah militants were massed around the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on Sunday, broadening Hizbullah's backing of President Assad's forces. A senior Hizbullah commander said there were about 2,000 fighters in Aleppo province, largely stationed in Shiite towns north of the city. He added that there were 3,000 Hizbullah fighters in Qusayr, among "no more than 10,000" in the whole of Syria. Emile Hokayem, of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said of the Aleppo deployment, "A deployment so deep into Syria and in such a crucial place would be a clear indication that Hizbullah's role in Syria was never limited to defensive aims but is geared toward helping Assad score major victories."