Special to WorldTribune.com

NICOSIA — The regime of President Bashar Assad has intensified its assault on Syria’s largest city.

The Syrian Air Force has been conducting intensive air strikes on Aleppo in late April.

The opposition said fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft were pounding rebel strongholds in the eastern part of Aleppo with a range of weapons, including so-called barrel bombs.

“Helicopters dropped barrel bombs on areas in Bab Qensren in old Aleppo; there are reports of casualties,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

On April 27, Syrian Observatory said at least 21 people were killed and 50 others injured in a rebel strike. The rebels were said to have blown up a building used by Assad forces.

“The fire targeted regime-held neighborhoods, including some in the Old City where the rebels are trying to advance,” Syrian Observatory said.

The rebels, including Al Qaida’s Nusra Front for the Defense of the
Levant, were said to control much of eastern Aleppo. They said rebel
militias captured buildings next to the headquarters of Syrian Air Force
intelligence.

“The aim of this battle was to control the Air Force Intelligence
headquarters and advance in the western areas,” the opposition Ahl Al Sham
operations room said.

The battle has sparked the flight of civilians from several districts of
Aleppo. The entire city has been without electricity for at least nine days.

The Syrian Army was said to have advanced in such districts as Ramouseh
and Zahra. The Syrian media said army units captured scores of Nusra
fighters in Aleppo’s Sheik Najar.

“Syrian warplanes bombarded areas in the Layramoun and Rashedin
neighborhoods and areas in Azaz and Ma’arah Al Artiq, which injured many
civilians,” Syrian Observatory said.

  Assad’s forces intensify air strikes on rebel-held Aleppo, barrel bombs, Nusra Front, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights