Syrian army, rebels wage fierce battles north of Aleppo city

[BEIRUT] Syrian government forces and rebels waged fierce battles north of Aleppo on Friday, sources on both sides said, a week into a Russian-backed offensive by the Syrian army to take the entire city.

Syrian government forces made a significant advance on Thursday north of Aleppo, capturing the Handarat refugee camp, a few kilometres from the city. The sources gave conflicting reports on the outcome of Friday's fighting.

Hezbollah's Al Manar television said on Friday the Syrian army and its allies took full control of Handarat and the nearby Kindi Hospital area and continued advancing.

Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shi'ite group, is fighting in support of the Syrian government.

But a senior rebel source denied that the government had captured the Kindi Hospital area, saying the battles were ongoing.

REUTERS