Syria rebels retreat under heavy Aleppo fire

DHAKA: The Syrian army has renewed its heavy shelling of rebel-held areas of Aleppo, the country’s commercial capital, anti-government activists have said, forcing the armed opposition to withdraw from at least one neighbourhood.

Intense bombardment rocked the neighbourhoods of Saleheddin, Hanano, Saif al-Dawla, Shaar and Shakur on Thursday, anti-government groups have said, reports Al Jazeera.

The army attacks are part of the government’s continuing air and ground assaults on Aleppo, which is being defended by armed members of the movement to overthrow Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president.

The battle for the city has now raged for more than two weeks.

The fighting in Aleppo has focused mainly on the neighbourhood of Salaheddin, where heavy clashes have taken place in recent days between the Free Syrian Army and government forces.

On Thursday morning, FSA commanders said that they were withdrawing from some parts of the neighbourhood, under heavy government fire.

‘The FSA has withdrawn from two streets where there has been fighting in recent days,’ said Hossam Abu Mohammed, commander of the Dara al-Shahbaa Brigade.

‘The fighters are withdrawing to (nearby) Sukari district, where they are preparing a counter-attack against the army.’

‘A large number of civilians were killed, as were some 40 rebels,’ said Abu Mohammed.

Another FSA commander in Salaheddin confirmed that the rebels are staging a tactical withdrawal.

BDST: 2046 HRS, AUG 9, 2012

Edited by Robab Rosan, Cultural Affairs Editor