Over 100 Syrian soldiers, rebels killed in Aleppo clashes

Over 100 Syrian soldiers and jihadist militants were killed Friday during intense battles in the northern province of Aleppo, a monitor group reported.

The soldiers and militants were killed during the Syrian military offensive for the capture of the key town Ratyan in northern countryside of Aleppo, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Britain-based watchdog group said the Syrian army backed by fighters from Iran and the Shiite Lebanese Hezbollah group captured the town of Ratyan, a year after the government troops lost over 200 of its soldiers and militants while trying to take the town.

The recent offensive in Aleppo is part of the government resolve to cut the city from its northern countryside and deprive the rebels from their supply lines from the Turkish territories into northern Aleppo.

Capturing Ratyan and progressing into Mayer came after the Syrian army captured key towns in northern Aleppo, namely the towns of Dweir Zaitoun, Hardatnain, Tal Jbain, and Maraset al-Khan, all the way toward breaking the Nusra Front siege on the Shiite towns of Nubbol and Zahraa.

Nubbol and Zahraa had been under the militants' siege for over three years, during which the Syrian jets were dropping aid and food to the trapped people.

In 2015, over 200 soldiers and officers were killed while attempting to advance toward both towns, according to the Observatory, which relies on a network of activists on ground. Endit