Beirut (AP) Feb. 18, 2015 — Syrian rebels on Wednesday regained much of the territory north of the city of Aleppo lost to government troops in fierce fighting the previous day in clashes that left more than 100 dead on both sides, activists said.
The violence came as U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura said he received a government commitment to suspend airstrikes on the city of Aleppo for six weeks, which would allow a proposed U.N. plan to “freeze” hostilities in the country’s largest city to be tested.
An activist in Aleppo said most rebel factions will abide by a truce if the government stops airstrikes and releases detainees, starting with female prisoners.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Turkey-based activist Bari Abdellatif said rebels regained control of the villages of Ratyan and Dweir Zeytoun early Wednesday. The Observatory says 70 troops were killed in Tuesday’s fighting.
The Observatory and Hamed, the Aleppo-based activist, said fighting is now concentrated in the village of Bashkoy, just north of Aleppo. They said rebels were fighting against Syrian troops backed by members of Lebanon`s Hezbollah group.
An amateur video released by rebels showed the bodies of some 25 Syrian soldiers and pro-government gunmen in Aleppo`s northern suburb of Mallah lying in a muddy open field.
The video appeared genuine and corresponded to other Associated Press reporting of the events.
The Observatory and the Lebanon-based Al-Mayadeen TV said some 30 Syrian soldiers were able to reach the besieged, predominantly Shiite village of Zahraa north of Aleppo for the first time since 2012.
Hamed denied that troops were able to reach Zahraa, adding that the village and nearby Nubul are still encircled by rebels.