Regime forces press to open Aleppo's Karaj Al Hajez Crossing

 (Reporting by Ahmad Primo; Translation by Yusra Ahmed)

ALEPPO (Zaman Alwasl)- An informed source from the Syrian regime in Aleppo, reported to Zaman Alwasl that regime has decided to open Karaj al-Hajez crossing that has been closed for many weeks, before the beginning of the presidential election.

The source reported that regime has threatened of bombing the neighborhood with explosive barrels to force rebels to open the crossing road.

The statement of the regime’s official was confirmed by eye witnesses, as they reported that Shabiha drove around Bostan al-Qasr threatening of wiping out the area with barrel bombs if the crossing was not open, as it was closed according to orders from the Shariah court because it was a base for snipers who targeted pedestrians.

Local residents talked about a promise the Governor of Aleppo gave to stop sniping residents.

Dozens of people from Bostan al-Qasr, protested and demanded opening the crossing, because it is the only way connecting the East part of Aleppo, which is liberated and under the rebels’ control, with the regime-ruled Western part of Aleppo.

Protestors reported difficulties in securing minimal living needs in the areas under rebels’ control as trade and manufacturing have stopped, besides the heavy bombing with barrel bombs, with increased worries about the possibility of siege the area if Aleppo-Hendarat road, that connect the city of Aleppo, with the countryside and Turkey, was controlled by the regime.

One of the protestor described his dilemma saying: “I neither can cover the cost of travelling to Turkey, nor the cost of living there, I want the crossing to be opened to let us to leave to another safer place”

Sources reported that council of Bostan al-Qasr promised to deliver people’s requests to open the crossing to the battalions, especially at the time of the secondary schools and Universities examinations.

Despite all of that, it is reported that regime has been bombing Bostan al-Qasr with explosive barrels which resulted in killing dozens of civilians and destroying many buildings and rescuing with primary instrument still on till the time of doing the report.

Syria's conflict, now in its fourth year, has killed more than 162,000 people, a third of them civilians, and caused millions to flee.