Fierce Fighting Grips Aleppo

Syrian activists say clashes between government forces and rebels are continuing in Aleppo Thursday, as the military presses on with an assault on opposition-held areas of the nation's largest city.

The Local Coordination Committees and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported fighting Thursday in several districts of Aleppo. The Observatory said government forces were heavily shelling several neighborhoods.

The Syrian military launched a two-pronged attack on the city Wednesday, with jets and helicopters bombing from overhead while ground forces targeted rebel positions.

Syrian state television said government forces were overrunning the rebels, but the leaders of the opposition's Free Syrian Army denied they were retreating. Reports from foreign journalists in the city said that some rebels had indeed pulled back.

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​​The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights described the clashes in the Aleppo neighborhood of Salaheddin as "the most violent" the neighborhood has seen since rebels took control. The group said more than 130 people died across Syria on Wednesday alone.

Also Thursday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad appointed Wael al-Halqi as the new prime minister, following the defection earlier this week of former prime minister Riad Hijab.

Iran plans conference

As the fighting rages on in the 17-month uprising, Syrian ally Iran is trying to advance a solution to the crisis with talks Thursday in Tehran.  

Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi says Iran is hosting a meeting of countries committed to implementing an immediate cease-fire, sending humanitarian aid to Syria and preparing for dialogue.

Russia is sending its ambassador to Iran to the talks, but it is unclear which other nations may take part.

Salehi visited Turkey Tuesday in a bid to seek Ankara's help in releasing 48 Iranians held by the Free Syrian Army. He said on Wednesday that some of the Iranians are retired members of the Revolutionary Guards and the army. He said they were in Damascus on a religious pilgrimage and do not have any current military connection.  

But The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that the men had booked their trip through a Revolutionary Guards tour group. The rebel Free Syrian Army said the Iranians were on a "reconnaissance mission."

Help for refugees

In addition to Iran's plans for involvement in the crisis, many other nations are also stepping up assistance.

A team of French military doctors left Paris Thursday for Jordan, where the group will set up along the Jordanian-Syrian border to treat Syrian refugees.

The 25 medical personnel are flying about 20 tons of medical equipment with them to the Jordanian capital of Amman.

The doctor heading the mission, Gerard Dosseh, said the team aims to be operational by the end of the week. The group will be able to perform up to 10 surgeries a day.

Hundreds of thousands of Syrians have fled to neighboring countries to escape the violence in their homeland, while many others are internally displaced.

In all, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says more than 20,000 people have been killed across the country since the uprising began in March of last year.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters

Photo Gallery: Latest Images from Syria

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