Special to WorldTribune.com

NICOSIA — After a lull of four months, President Bashar Assad has resumed efforts to capture Syria’s largest city.

Opposition sources said the Syrian Army has been attacking the northern city of Aleppo in November 2013.

The sources said the Army, together with the Iranian proxy Hizbullah, has been progressing along two fronts in an effort to trap the estimated 20,000 rebels around the city.

“There are many dead and wounded in the ranks of the regular [Assad] forces,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The sources said one formation of Assad forces was moving through southern Aleppo while another was concentrating on the city’s international airport. They said the Army, supported by Hizbullah and the National Defense Forces, assaulted a military base controlled by the Al Qaida-aligned Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

On Nov. 9, the Western-backed Free Syrian Army said it joined the battle and repelled Assad forces from the base. Later, Syrian Observatory said FSA and Al Qaida units recaptured part of the military facility, called Base 80. More than 50 people were reported killed.

“As a result of the fighting, the rebels and jihadists have retaken
parts of the base captured during the day by the Army,” Syrian
Observatory said.

Still, the Assad advance, backed by heavy air strikes, threatens to
reverse rebel gains around Aleppo over the last year. Sunni rebels captured
Base 80 in February 2013.

The sources said the Syrian military has made effective use of air
strikes in supporting infantry operations against the rebels. They cited the
Army capture of Sfeira, southeast of Aleppo and held by the rebels since
July 2012.

  Assad sends Army, Base 80, Free Syrian Army, Hizbullah battle rebels in key city of Aleppo, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Syrian Army, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights