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Syria: Troops and rebels reinforce for big Aleppo battle Syria: Troops and rebels reinforce for Aleppo battle
(about 6 hours later)
Syrian rebels have stepped up their stockpiling of ammunition and medical supplies in preparation for a major battle in Aleppo, a BBC reporter says. Syrian rebels in Aleppo have begun stockpiling ammunition and medical supplies as government forces prepare outside the city for a major battle.
The rebels, who are in control large parts of Syria's second city, have set up checkpoints and sniper positions. Artillery and helicopter gunships have resumed attacking rebel targets and 14 people have been killed, activists say.
Activists say columns of government troops and tanks are heading towards the city from other areas. Troops and tanks are said to be ringing the city and reinforcements are reportedly on their way to join them.
Aleppo is the country's commercial capital, and is key to the battle to control the north of the country. The rebels, who claim to control up to half of Syria's second city, have set up checkpoints and sniper positions.
Street battles have been reported throughout Aleppo for almost a week, as rebels try to hold on to seized neighbourhoods. A Syrian security source was quoted by AFP news agency as saying that special forces had begun arriving on the edges of Aleppo in readiness for a "generalised counter-offensive on Friday or Saturday".
A similar account has emerged from the London-based pro-opposition Syrian Human Rights Observatory, which talks of reinforcements arriving from the main Damascus to Aleppo road to the south.
Columns of troops and tanks are also thought to be travelling from the city of Hama, and from the border posts with Turkey in Idlib province.
Aleppo is the country's commercial capital, and key to the battle to control the north of the country.
Street battles have been reported throughout the city for days, as rebels try to hold on to neighbourhoods captured in an offensive that began at the weekend.
Although it was relatively quiet on Thursday, activists said artillery fire could be heard in the Salah al-Din neighbourhood in the southwest of the city and clashes in Tariq al-Bab in the east had led to two rebels being killed.
Foreign journalists operate under heavy restrictions in Syria so claims made by either side are difficult to verify.
The BBC's Ian Pannell near the city says thousands of people are leaving as fears grow that an intense battle is looming.The BBC's Ian Pannell near the city says thousands of people are leaving as fears grow that an intense battle is looming.
It is almost inconceivable that President Assad could allow his government to lose control of the city, so it is reasonable to expect that they are going to throw everything they possibly can at the city.It is almost inconceivable that President Assad could allow his government to lose control of the city, so it is reasonable to expect that they are going to throw everything they possibly can at the city.
And that is what they are preparing for here. One of the neighbourhoods is appealing for more blood supplies. We are hearing reports of hundreds, possibly thousands of families leaving some districts. Everybody is bracing themselves for an intensive campaign.And that is what they are preparing for here. One of the neighbourhoods is appealing for more blood supplies. We are hearing reports of hundreds, possibly thousands of families leaving some districts. Everybody is bracing themselves for an intensive campaign.
The way it has worked in other cities is that there is an intensive bombardment by artillery and mortars, and then when it starts to go calm, tanks begin to roll in. This is a very congested heavily populated area, so it will be bloody.The way it has worked in other cities is that there is an intensive bombardment by artillery and mortars, and then when it starts to go calm, tanks begin to roll in. This is a very congested heavily populated area, so it will be bloody.
He says the rebels are reinforcing their ranks with more fighters, medical supplies, and ammunition such as Kalashnikov rifles.He says the rebels are reinforcing their ranks with more fighters, medical supplies, and ammunition such as Kalashnikov rifles.
But restive neighbourhoods have been pounded by artillery, mortars and helicopter gunfire from government forces in recent days. Talal al-Mayhani, an activist with connections in the rebel movement in Aleppo, said the battle for Aleppo was likely to play out in a similar way to an earlier battle in the capital Damascus, when rebels took control of large parts of the city before being forced to withdraw in the face of a government offensive.
And troops and tanks were reported to be heading to Aleppo from the city of Hama, and from the border posts with Turkey in Idlib province. Reporter Laurent Van der Stockt from French newspaper Le Monde told the BBC that Free Syrian Army (FSA) commanders in Aleppo were full of confidence but were lacking weapons.
Activists say it is unlikely that the rebels will be able to hold on to the territory that they have gained if faced with a full assault from regime forces. "A commander told me this morning they attacked a convoy and destroyed 10 armoured vehicles."
"They lack the strategic support and weaponry," said Talal al-Mayhani, an activist with connections in the rebel movement in Aleppo. Luke Harding of the Guardian newspaper, 50km (30mi) west of Aleppo, told the BBC that much of the rest of Aleppo province was in rebel hands but it was an exaggeration to say they were in control of half of the city.
He said the battle for Aleppo was likely to play out in a similar way to an earlier battle in the capital Damascus, when rebels took control of large parts of the city before being forced to withdraw in the face of a government offensive. "It's true they're in the southern part of the city and the northeast. Tactically, they're doing guerrilla-style attacks and they can melt away quite quickly."
Adrien Jaulmes, from the French newspaper Le Figaro, was travelling with the rebels around Aleppo on Wednesday and said they appeared to control about half of the city at most.
He said the rebels expected to be outgunned by the army, and intended to use guerrilla tactics when government reinforcements arrived.

Aleppo mission

Aleppo mission

In Damascus, where government forces have largely repelled a sustained assault by rebels, state TV reported more clashes in the southern district of Qadam.In Damascus, where government forces have largely repelled a sustained assault by rebels, state TV reported more clashes in the southern district of Qadam.
The report showed army troops firing intensively as they moved into heavily damaged streets.The report showed army troops firing intensively as they moved into heavily damaged streets.
The government says its forces are trying to dislodge the "remnants of mercenary terrorist groups".The government says its forces are trying to dislodge the "remnants of mercenary terrorist groups".
More than 16,000 people have been killed in Syria since the start of anti-regime protests in March 2011.More than 16,000 people have been killed in Syria since the start of anti-regime protests in March 2011.
Repeated diplomatic attempts to stop the violence have foundered, with the UN Security Council bitterly divided.Repeated diplomatic attempts to stop the violence have foundered, with the UN Security Council bitterly divided.
Thousands of refugees have already sought shelter in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq.Thousands of refugees have already sought shelter in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq.
And conditions throughout the country have worsened as the fighting has spread and intensified in the two main cities in recent weeks.And conditions throughout the country have worsened as the fighting has spread and intensified in the two main cities in recent weeks.
Do you have friends or family in Aleppo? Have they been affected by the fighting? Please get in touch using the form below.Do you have friends or family in Aleppo? Have they been affected by the fighting? Please get in touch using the form below.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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