Syrian army consolidate units in battered Aleppo province

DAMASCUS, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian government reinforced Thursday military units in the battered northern province of Aleppo, a recent hotspot of armed confrontation between Western- backed armed rebels and government forces.

The pan-Arab Mayadeen TV cited sources in Aleppo as saying that military reinforcements have arrived Thursday in Aleppo, adding that "the atmosphere indicates a different battle than before."

Meanwhile, an amateur video posted online showing military tanks heading toward Aleppo from the direction of northern Idlib province.

The state-run SANA news agency said the Syrian troops have hunted down an armed group near the town of Qanater in Aleppo's countryside Thursday, leaving the armed men killed or injured.

The state agency said the government forces have killed a number of "terrorists" with foreign nationalities in Aleppo.

In the town of Hajeb, also in Aleppo's countryside, SANA said the competent authorities have tracked down an armed group that was committing killing, robbery and booby-trapping buildings. Dozens of the group members were killed.

Meanwhile, British Guardian newspaper quoted a rebel leader in Aleppo as saying that the "government forces used MIG-21 jets and artillery mortars" to bombard neighborhoods in the northeastern part of Aleppo, including the districts of Hanano, Sakhur and Hamadaniyah.

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