Syrian troops make fresh advances in Aleppo
Iran Press TV
Fri May 23, 2014 4:44PM GMT
The Syrian army makes more gains in battles against foreign-backed Takfiri militant groups near the country's northern city of Aleppo.
On Friday, the army retook control of a factory and several other buildings near Aleppo's main prison.
This comes after the army broke a militant siege of the prison, following a large-scale air and ground assault on the facility.
Aid and ammunition have now been delivered to forces protecting the detention center.
Army officials say the recent gain boosts the position of troops against terrorists in eastern and northeastern parts of Aleppo.
Government troops have taken control of key areas in the past months, which the militants used to smuggle weapons and forces into Syria.
This comes as Syrian troops are going ahead with their operations to push out the foreign-backed militants from residential areas across the country.
Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent have joined in an operation to deliver food aid to 60,000 people in Aleppo Province.
ICRC President Peter Maurer says it is the biggest such operation in months.
Although most of Aleppo has been liberated by Syrian forces, the ICRC said the food aid will be distributed both in militant-held and government-held areas of the northern Syrian province.
The latest operations come weeks after foreign-backed militants evacuated the Old City of Homs, surrendering full control of the flashpoint city to the Syrian army. The deal was brokered by Iran, Russia and the United Nations.
The deal marks a major victory for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ahead of the June 3 presidential election.
JR/AB/SS
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