WASHINGTON [MENL] -- A northern Syrian city has been deemed the launching pad for foreign fighters recruited for the Sunni insurgency in Iraq.

The Syrian city of Aleppo has become the the key departure point for Al Qaida-aligned fighters destined for Iraq. Islamic sources and U.S. officials said foreign fighters have been advised to arrive in Aleppo to ensure their entry into Iraq.

The Syrian Al Qaida-aligned website Minbar Suria al-Islami [www.nnuu.org] has called for experienced fighters to join the Sunni insurgency in Iraq. The website urged the fighters to maintain a low profile in Syria and arrive in Aleppo.

In a posting entitled "Advice to Brothers Seeking Jihad in Iraq," the website discouraged inexperienced youngsters from seeking to join the insurgency in Iraq. The posting said the Al Qaida-aligned insurgency does not have a shortage of fighters, rather requires specialists.