Aleppo sleeps and wakes up on deadly clashes, ceasefire likely shelved

Scores have been reported dead in heavy clashes between rebel groups and government forces in the Syrian city of Aleppo.

“Rebels were on the advance last night into government-held districts but were pushed back to their areas this Wednesday morning by the Syrian government army forces, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, adding that the battle was the most intense in Aleppo for more than a year.

After the clashes, Russia announced that attacks by jihadist militants allied to the rebels had disrupted a plan for a temporary truce.

Defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov stated that the plan of a ceasefire truce was put on the shelf following deadly ground and rocket attacks on government-controlled areas by al-Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda affiliate.