In Syria, bombardment of Aleppo brings 'a feeling of paralysis'

http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-syria-aleppo-20140214,0,7348194.story



Syrians walk through a street reduced to rubble by an airstrike in Aleppo, where the government has been dropping TNT-filled oil drums.

In Syria, bombardment of Aleppo brings 'a feeling of paralysis'
By Raja Abdulrahim
February 13, 2014, 2:59 p.m.

When Omar Naasir wants a restful night's sleep in Aleppo, he says, he stays as close as possible to the front line of the ongoing clashes between Syrian rebel and government forces.

Farther back in his rebel-controlled neighborhood, Naasir says, the risk of death greatly increases because of the barrel bombs and other explosives raining down daily amid the government's bombardment campaign.

"Between us and the regime army is sometimes less than 100 meters, so they don't drop barrel bombs there so they don't strike their positions," he said via Skype, referring to the deadly oil drums filled with TNT.

"With barrel bombs, there is a feeling of paralysis that is indescribable," said the former peace activist turned rebel.