Syrian troops sever rebels' Turkish supply lines

The Syrian troops have completed its siege on the rebel-held parts in the northern city of Aleppo, as part of its broad offensive, a local newspaper said Wednesday.

The Syrian troops have completely isolated the city of Aleppo, including its rebel-held parts, from its northern countryside, which is totally opened to the Turkish borders, the pro-government al-Watan daily said.

It also said that isolating the city from its northern countryside totally severed the rebels' supply lines from neighboring Turkey.

On Tuesday, the Syrian troops backed by pro-government militants, including the Lebanese Hezbollah, unleashed a wide-scale offensive on several fronts in Aleppo to confuse the many rebel factions there and to push forward in the northern countryside of that key province.

According to the state media, the Syrian forces succeeded to recapture many towns in its push to isolate Aleppo from its northern countryside.

Moreover, local media said the Syrian troops have reached two rebel-besieged towns in Aleppo, namely Nubul and Zahra, which have for long been ringed by the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front and likeminded groups.

The Sham FM radio said the troops are believed to have started breaking the siege on both towns, which are largely inhabited by Syrians of the Shiite sect.

Reports also said that the battles are still incessant against the rebels' positions in the northern rim of Aleppo.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based watchdog group, said the fresh battles in Aleppo killed 70 government troops and allied militants, as well as 66 rebels. Endit