At least two car bombs exploded in a square located in the center of Aleppo, Syria's second city. "Dozens of people killed and wounded," the majority of them from the regime's forces, reported an opposition NGO, while the official television talked about "three terrorist explosions."
The powerful blasts occurred in the famous Saadallah al-Jabiri square in the city center as well as a local hotel, said the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR).
Meanwhile, media reports indicated that the regime forces are preparing to launch an offensive to regain control on the country's two main cities, Damascus and Aleppo.
The official al-Baath daily reported that "the end of the security operations throughout the province of Damascus" should not be delayed. The Syrian newspaper Al-Watan, which is close to the regime, reported that large reinforcements were sent to Aleppo to support the Army units deployed in the city. "It is a sign of the determination of the army to win the battle in Aleppo," the newspaper said.
Another newspaper, reported the arrival of fresh troops to Aleppo. The newspaper said that President Bashar al-Assad visited the city in person to oversee preparations for the offensive which is set to begin Thursday.
However, the rebels do not believe this report about the visit. Colonel Riad Al-Assaad, head of the Free Syrian Army said the report came to demoralize the revolutionary forces: "I do not think Assad is stupid enough to come to Aleppo. The city is in the heat of battle. He never commits the mistake of going to a place that is beyond the control of his army. "
Regarding the arrival of 30,000 soldiers in Aleppo, Riad Al-Assaad said: "The regime is very weak. It suffered many losses lately."
