1st LD: Syrian army recaptures key rebel stronghold in Aleppo

The Syrian army backed by the Shiite Lebanese Hezbollah group took full control over one of the largest rebel strongholds in Syria's northern province of Aleppo, Hezbollah TV, al-Manar, and state news agency SANA reported on Sunday.

Syria's military forces backed by allied troops succeeded to fully recapture the town of Khan Tuman, one of the largest strongholds of the Jaish al-Fateh, or the Conquer Army, an alliance of several jihadi groups, mainly the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front.

The report said the army units have also captured the al-Amara hilltop in the surrounding of Khan Tuman, securing the entire vicinity of the town.

SANA also reported the fresh victory, adding that the Syrian army also captured weapon depots near the town.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said intense battles continued after midnight between the Syrian army backed by Hezbollah and several jihadi groups in the vicinity of Khan Tuman.

It added that Russian airstrikes carried out over 40 airstrikes on the clashes sites in support of the Syrian ground troops.

The capture of the town has dealt a strong blow to the Jaish al-Fateh rebels in southern Aleppo, as the Syrian army and Hezbollah have been on a crushing offensive in that region to wobble the rebels' control in southern Aleppo as a prelude to strom rebel-held areas in the eastern part of Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city and once an economic hub. Endit