Syria announces surprise easing of Aleppo assault

Syria's military on Wednesday announced a surprise reduction in bombardment of rebel groups in devastated Aleppo, nearly two weeks after declaring an all-out assault to capture the city. Aleppo city was once Syria's thriving commercial hub, but it now lies divided between rebels in the east and regime forces in the west. Syria's government announced a large-scale offensive to capture the whole city on September 22, ushering in a ferocious bombing campaign on opposition-held quarters.