Syrian government forces are continuing their bombardment of the city of Aleppo ahead of a widely expected all-out assault to uproot rebel fighters. Hundreds of troops are said to have massed on the city’s outskirts as Syrian gunships pound several neighborhoods. Rebel forces meanwhile have launched attacks on army checkpoints around the city. A number of people were reported dead in clashes on Thursday, but the exact amount is impossible to verify. In Washington, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said the United States fears a new massacre in Aleppo will occur.

Victoria Nuland: “This is the concern, that we will see a massacre in Aleppo, and that’s what the regime appears to be lining up for. Aleppo has again, as you said, been bombarded by Syrian fighter jets in the latest desperate effort of the Assad regime to hold onto control, and there are credible reports of columns of tanks prepared to attack the city.”