1st LD: Syrian warplanes foil rebel offensive with heavy airstrikes

The Syrian air force carried out 100 airstrikes against rebel positions in the northern province of Aleppo Wednesday, foiling the latest rebel offensive in that area, state news agency SANA reported.

The strikes came as the rebels have unleashed their third offensive in a bid to break to the recently imposed military siege on rebel-held areas east of Aleppo.

SANA said over 64 rebels have been killed over the past 24 hours in the government airstrikes targeting rebel-held positions at Khan Assal, Mansourah, Ma'rata, Zarbeh, Dahret Abd Rabo, Khan Touman and Urum Kubrah.

Meanwhile, a military source told Xinhua that the army thwarted the third rebel attack within a couple of weeks.

He said the intensity of battles in the southern countryside of Aleppo has largely declined.

Late last month, the Syrian army stormed the Bani Zaid area, a main rebel stronghold in the eastern part of Aleppo.

The progress came days after the army severed the last rebel supply route connecting the rebel held northern countryside of Aleppo with eastern part of the city under rebel control.

With the progress made, the Syrian army has fully besieged eastern Aleppo, urging the rebels to surrender themselves and the civilians to cooperate.

Moreover, President Bashar al-Assad announced an amnesty for the rebels who surrender themselves and their weapons to the authorities.

The Syrian authorities in cooperation with the Russians also opened three safe passages for civilians wishing to leave eastern Aleppo. They also opened a fourth one for the rebels who would want to surrender themselves.

On Tuesday, state news agency SANA said dozens of families evacuated eastern districts in Aleppo, the second batch to leave the city since the government offered the safe passages.

SANA also said rebel fighters surrendered themselves to the authorities.

Video clips of rebels surrendering were aired on several Syrian TVs.

With the Syrian army making all this progress in Aleppo, the rebels, including jihadi ones, unleashed several attacks over the past week to try to break the government-imposed siege.

However, all of their efforts have been rendered flat so far, as the government siege on rebel-held areas is still in place.

Aleppo, Syria's largest province and once a thriving economic metropolis, has witnessed intensified violent battles lately as the Syrian army advances against the rebels in the north. Endit