Syrians dig, cook, fill sandbags in war with Assad

Volunteers prepare meals to be delivered for fighters, in the town of Atarib, Syria June 20, 2019. Picture taken June 20, 2019. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi

ATARIB, Syria (Reuters) - Away from the frontlines, volunteers are helping in the war against President Bashar al-Assad by cooking, filling sandbags, collecting old tyres and digging trenches, aiming to help ward off his assault on northwestern Syria.

It is part of the civilian effort to help defend the last major rebel stronghold from Assad and his Russian allies who have been pounding it for weeks.