Al-Nusra Front claimed Sunday they controlled the regime's military barracks in Sheikh Maskeen town in the southern governorate of Daraa after a double suicide car bombing, Al-Sham news network reported.
Battles are still raging in the outer suburbs of the town with Al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria, trying to repel the Brigade 82 out of the town.
Meanwhile, the battles in the northern city of Aleppo claimed 40 lives, including 24 Islamist and other opposition fighters, on one hand, and 10 soldiers and pro-regime militiamen among who were some members of the Lebanese Hezbollah group, and Iranian and Afghan fighters, on the other.
The regime's warplanes pounded areas in the vicinity of the Citadel of Aleppo following a deadly bomb attack against the regular troops.
Reports coming from the city said a huge explosion hit inside a tunnel in Masjed Al-Sultaniya neighborhood and resulted in several casualties among the regular troops and loyal militiamen.
The opposition forces launched mortar attacks on the regime camps near Al-Qasr Al-Baladi (the municipal palace) and Al-Nil Street as well as the neighborhoods of Jam'iyat Al-Zahraa, Masaken Al-Sabil, Misaloun and Al-Hamidiya.
In the early morning today, the regime started a military operation, codenamed 'Qous Qusah' (rainbow), with a view to tightening the siege on Aleppo.