Special to WorldTribune.com

Russia announced a major escalation in its air campaign as troops from Syria, Hizbullah and Iran began an offensive aimed at anti-Assad regime rebels in Aleppo.

Russia said it will increased the number of sorties its warplanes carry out to 300 per day and Moscow will also build a new runway to accommodate the escalation.

Meanwhile, Syrian regime troops were joined by fighters from Hizbullah and Iran in a ground offensive near Aleppo that was supported by Russian air strikes. Observers say the ground offensive was also preparing an assault on the strategically important village of Al-Hader, just south of Aleppo.

The troops backing Syrian President Bashar Assad captured at least five villages in the Aleppo region on Oct. 17, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Reports say Russia carried out at least 80 air strikes in and around Aleppo since Oct. 16.

Observatory leader Rami Abdel Rahman said the Oct. 17 offensive brought the Assad regime to the edge of al-Hader, which lies on a key supply route between Aleppo and Hama. Taking al-Hader would give Assad’s forces a huge advantage in the battle, Rahman said.

A senior Syrian army source said the offensive is also targeting the Kweyris military airport, which could be used by Russian warplanes that are currently stationed at the Hmeimim base in eastern Latakia province.

“We are not fighting for specific leaders, we are defending our national interests, on the one hand. And secondly, we have a request from the lawful authorities (of Syria). That is the basis we are working on,” Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said.

Russia continues to insist it is focusing most of its air strikes on Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) targets, but Western intelligence agencies have said most of the strikes have been against anti-Assad rebels.

“If we don’t destroy these terrorists there, they will come to Russia,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

  Bashar Assad, Iran, ISIL, Russia escalates air strikes as Syria-Iran-Hizbullah advances on Aleppo, Vladimir Putin, WorldTribune.com