Syrian military helicopters pound Aleppo – activists

PanARMENIAN.Net - Syrian military helicopters pounded a central district of Aleppo on Saturday, July 28, as forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad prepared for an onslaught on rebel fighters that could determine the fate of the country's biggest city, opposition sources said, according to Reuters.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition group which collects information on the uprising against Assad that has gripped Syria for the past 16 months, reported helicopter attacks on the central Salaheddine district of Aleppo and violent clashes elsewhere in the city.

"Helicopters are participating in clashes at the entrance of Salaheddine district and bombarding it," the group said in an emailed statement. "There are also violent clashes at the entrances to Sakhour district."

The battle for the city of 2.5 million people is seen as a crucial test for a government that has committed major military resources to retaining control of its two main power centers, Aleppo and Damascus, in the face of a growing insurgency.