Syrian forces bombarded opposition-held districts in the northern city of Aleppo Monday (July 30th) for the third straight day, forcing some 200,000 civilians to flee, AFP reported.
Syria's official media SANA reported Sunday night that government-allied forces were "cleansing" the southwestern Salaheddine district of "terrorists".
Col. Abdel Jabbar al-Oqaidi, head of the Free Syrian Army military council in Aleppo, insisted government troops had "not progressed one metre".
Despite government bombardment by helicopter gunships and MiG fighter jets, opposition forces "launched a new assault from Salaheddine during the night, and we destroyed four tanks", al-Oqaidi told AFP.
Gen. Ferzat Abdel Nasser, an officer who defected, said the armed opposition seized the Anadan checkpoint northwest of Aleppo, granting them control of a direct route between the Turkish border and Syria's commercial capital.
Six government soldiers were killed during the 10-hour battle for the checkpoint, Nasser said, 25 were taken prisoner and four of his own men died.
The United Nations said Sunday that 200,000 people have fled the besieged city during the government's attack.
Valerie Amos, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, said in a statement that an unconfirmed number of people are still trapped in the city, which has a population of about 2.5 million.
"It is not known how many people remain trapped in places where fighting continues today," Amos said, noting she was "extremely concerned by the impact of shelling and use of tanks and other heavy weapons".
The latest violence followed reports of at least 125 killed on Sunday across the country, including 46 civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
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ADD A COMMENT (COMMENT POLICY) * DENOTES REQUIRED FIELD
READER COMMENTS
تحسين عبد الكريم
2012-7-31
Basher Al-Assad governor of Syria, and it is supposed to be the protector of Syria, but how the ruler of the country and protector to become in one night a lethal force to that country and hand of killing to the people of his country. Thus became Basher al-Assad after the departure of movements interceptors and demonstrations demanding the lifting of oppression for the Syrian people and stop wasting the rights of Syrian citizens and give them the rights and freedoms, the just for them. The louder the protests and objections until they reached the ears of Basher al-Assad and his decision was final death and the slaughter of all Syrian citizens, and hopefully the execution of a court in which discussions and opportunities escape. However, the execution of wild stray bullets to innocent people and swords slaughtered the necks of Syrian citizens amid the streets of Syria. The cries wild out the hearts of the Syrian oppression and grief for all have led them to him. They became with no identity a part the Arab countries and non-Arabs fleeing their lives because they know that in their stay in Syria are uncertain death. Basher traitor's Syrian Armed Forces ordered them in the courtyard of his people chasing the Syrian citizens in each place and did not even forbid himself the sanctity of homes and soldiers of Basher who broke into the houses only to slaughter all live. Any punishment that fits and suits liked by Basher Al-Assad. Shall be made as soon as possible the establishment of a trial of Basher al-Assad as a war criminal for all that has gotten on the people of the weak pacifist who had never heard notorious for brutal day, all the time they are a beautiful cream Pacific peoples who love tranquility and safety .