BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian activists say government warplanes and ground forces are pounding the country's largest city, Aleppo, with bombs and mortar rounds today as soldiers battle rebels in its narrow streets.
Syria troops are still struggling to clear the city of lightly-armed rebel forces nearly five weeks after they stormed their way into it.
Activists say that this is the second day of a rebel push in Aleppo they're calling "Northern Volcano." Rebel fighters are targeting security facilities in the city and the surrounding province, including an artillery training school, a compound of the feared air force intelligence, and a large army checkpoint.
There are also reports of shelling and overnight battles in neighborhoods of Damascus. Syrian government forces have been able to recapture most areas of the capital that rebels seized in a July offensive, but opposition fighters continue to stage hit-and-run attacks there.
Activists also say rebels have captured an air defense facility in the east of the country near the border with Iraq. Opposition forces claim to have made advances in the area over the past days.
%@AP Links
083-c-09-(Bassem Mroue (BAH'-sehm MROOH'-eh), AP correspondent)-"most Damascus neigborhoods"-AP correspondent Bassem Mroue reports that Syrians in these areas of Damascus continue to battle the Assad regime. (1 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *083 (09/01/12)>> 00:09 "most Damascus neigborhoods"
082-c-08-(Bassem Mroue (BAH'-sehm MROOH'-eh), AP correspondent)-"rebels and troops"-AP correspondent Bassem Mroue reports that opposition areas in the Syrian capital are facing heavy shelling by regime forces. (1 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *082 (09/01/12)>> 00:08 "rebels and troops"
085-c-12-(Bassem Mroue (BAH'-sehm MROOH'-eh), AP correspondent)-"in the action"-AP correspondent Bassem Mroue reports that fighting continues in the northern city of Aleppo. (1 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *085 (09/01/12)>> 00:12 "in the action"
084-c-11-(Bassem Mroue (BAH'-sehm MROOH'-eh), AP correspondent)-"from these areas"-AP correspondent Bassem Mroue reports that opposition fighters have overrun more border check points. (1 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *084 (09/01/12)>> 00:11 "from these areas"
APPHOTO CAI109: In this image made from video and accessed Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012, a Syrian rebel fires his weapon at Syrian Army positions during fighting in Aleppo, Syria. Syrian troops bombarded the northern city of Aleppo Saturday with warplanes and mortar shells as soldiers clashed with rebels in different parts of Syria's largest city, activists said. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the clashes were concentrated in several tense neighborhoods where some buildings were damaged and a number of people were wounded. (AP Photo via AP video) (1 Sep 2012)
<<APPHOTO CAI109 (09/01/12)>>
APPHOTO CAI115: In this image made from video and accessed Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012, a Free Syrian Army fighter fires his weapon at a Syrian Army position through a hole in an empty and destroyed home during fighting in Aleppo, Syria. Syrian troops bombarded the northern city of Aleppo Saturday with warplanes and mortar shells as soldiers clashed with rebels in different parts of Syria's largest city, activists said. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the clashes were concentrated in several tense neighborhoods where some buildings were damaged and a number of people were wounded. (AP Photo via AP video) (1 Sep 2012)
<<APPHOTO CAI115 (09/01/12)>>
APPHOTO CAI112: In this image made from video and accessed Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012, Free Syrian Army fighters engage with Syrian troops in Aleppo, Syria. Syrian troops bombarded the northern city of Aleppo Saturday with warplanes and mortar shells as soldiers clashed with rebels in different parts of Syria's largest city, activists said. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the clashes were concentrated in several tense neighborhoods where some buildings were damaged and a number of people were wounded. (AP Photo via AP video) (1 Sep 2012)
<<APPHOTO CAI112 (09/01/12)>>
APPHOTO CAI111: In this image made from video and accessed Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012, a Free Syrian Army fighter gestures during fighting with the Syrian Army in Aleppo, Syria. Syrian troops bombarded the northern city of Aleppo Saturday with warplanes and mortar shells as soldiers clashed with rebels in different parts of Syria's largest city, activists said. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the clashes were concentrated in several tense neighborhoods where some buildings were damaged and a number of people were wounded. (AP Photo via AP video) (1 Sep 2012)
<<APPHOTO CAI111 (09/01/12)>>
APPHOTO CAI110: In this image made from video and accessed Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012, Free Syrian Army fighters raise their weapons during fighting with the Syrian Army in Aleppo, Syria. Syrian troops bombarded the northern city of Aleppo Saturday with warplanes and mortar shells as soldiers clashed with rebels in different parts of Syria's largest city, activists said. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the clashes were concentrated in several tense neighborhoods where some buildings were damaged and a number of people were wounded. (AP Photo/Robert King via AP video) (1 Sep 2012)
<<APPHOTO CAI110 (09/01/12)>>
