Syrian rebels plan 'own assault' on Aleppo city 'to help fellow fighters'

Damascus, July 31 (ANI): Rebel groups in Syria have said they plan to mount their own assault on the city of Aleppo to try to help their fellow fighters.

Free Syrian Army (FSA) commanders are ordering fighters to infiltrate the besieged city to rise up and throw out President Bashar-al Assad's troops.

According to Sky News, the FSA said their preparations for proper assault on Aleppo is now in the early stages, and it meant to support fighters who are already inside."The north belongs to the FSA for now, but keeping it and taking Aleppo will be a bloody fight to the end," the report said.Meanwhile, the battle between government forces and opposition fighters over Syria's largest city has intensified, forcing thousands of civilians to flee to neighbouring countries and raising fears for those trapped in the crossfire.

Fierce fighting has centred on the Salaheddine district in southwest Aleppo, where Assad's troops have been backed by helicopter attacks.

Syrian troops recently said they had recaptured the area, but opposition fighters insisted they were holding off the army after a ten-day offensive, the report said.

According to the report, Colonel Abdel Jabbar al Oqaidi, head of the FSA military council of Aleppo, insisted government troops had 'not progressed one metre'. (ANI)