Syrian government forces on Thursday resumed assaults on rebel-held areas across Syria, mainly on the outskirts of the capital Damascus, opposition activists said, dpa reported. Government forces shelled the district of al-Hajar al-Aswad south of Damascus, the opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Rebels fighters attacked a security checkpoint in the neighbouring district of al-Qadam, leaving al least 10 soldiers dead and injured, the Britain-based group said. In the northern city of Aleppo, jets bombarded the rebel-held districts of al-Shaar and Seif al Dawla, activists said.
Aleppo, Syria's biggest city and main commercial centre, has been the scene of fighting for several weeks, with neither side making long-lasting gains.
Rights group Amnesty International said Thursday Syrian civilians were facing "horrific" violence in Aleppo.
"The use of imprecise weapons, such as unguided bombs, artillery shells and mortars by government forces has dramatically increased the danger for civilians," said Donatella Rovera, the group's senior crisis response adviser, who recently returned from Aleppo.
In neighbouring Lebanon, four Lebanese were killed when Syrian troops shelled a border area, local media reported.
Relative calm prevailed in northern Lebanon after days of deadly fighting between supporters and opponents of President Bashar al-Assad.
At least 10 people were killed and more than 100 injured in the clashes that erupted Monday night, fanning fears about a possible spillover of the Syrian conflict into Lebanon.
