The villages of Nubbul and al-Zahra are the latest parts of Aleppo to find a target painted on their backs, as rebels said that the villagers need to unconditionally surrender to the rebels’ rule or be crushed.

In a video released on the internet, extremist militants who have been holding Nubbul and al-Zahra under a strict siege for nearly a year now, threatened to carry out “a massive military invasion” on the towns if their demands are not met.

The Syrian army, with support of civilian volunteers, has started a major operation in Aleppo, dubbed as “North Storm”, to free the province which has been scene of brutal crimes committed by thousands of Takfiri and extremist militants.

Due to its closeness to the Turkey borders, Aleppo has been a major bastion for terrorists. Moreover, after the army freed the strategic town of Qusayr, many of insurgents have set camps in Aleppo, especially in northern areas.

Residents of Nubbul and al-Zahra have suffered a long blockade of all kinds of humanitarian supplies since July 2012 when terrorists completely closed the area and killed anyone who tried to exit.

In May, a group of a thousand people tried to break the siege, but they were faced with terrorists who attacked the group brutally and killed and arrested many of them.

They beheaded 10 men and hung their heads at the entrance of the area so that no one else would run.

More than 50 thousand people live in these two towns while after the crisis broke out some 15000 people also migrated and set camp in there.

There are daily reports of abduction and killing of citizens in the area by terrorist groups who often film their crimes and post them on the internet.

It is estimated that at least 10 thousand terrorist are currently occupying the towns.