With Claim And Counterclaim, Aleppo Offensive Enters Second Day

On the second day of a ground offensive that the authorities say has inflicted heavy losses on foes of President Bashar Assad, Assad also sought to project an appearance of political control and authority by appointing a new prime minister, Wael Nader al-Halqi, to replace Riad Farid Hijab, who defected to Jordan this week. The state news agency said the Syrian Army had made a “decisive attack