This Article is From Jul 07, 2014

Syrian Troops Advance in Largest City

Beirut: Activists say Syrian troops are advancing inside Aleppo in what appears to be an attempt to lay siege to rebel-held parts of the country's largest city.

Putting rebels in Aleppo under siege would be the biggest blow to the opposition since they entered the northern city in 2012.

Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Monday that reinforcements, including elite government forces and allies from Lebanon's Hezbollah group, arrived in the city recently.

Abdurrahman and an activist based near Aleppo who goes by the name of Abu al-Hassan said Monday's fighting is concentrating near an army base that rebels captured two years ago.

Syrian government forces seized last week a key industrial area, allowing them to choke off rebel-held parts of Aleppo.

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