The battle for control of the northern city of Aleppo has intensified with air strikes, ground offensives and shelling.<br /><br /> Monitors say it comes the morning after a resurgence in fighting ended a Russian ceasefire.<br /><br /> Russia had declared a unilateral ceasefire from Thursday which was rejected by the rebels.<br /><br /> It lasted three days and did not result in hoped-for medical evacuations from the city or deliveries of aid.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /> Syria: heavy clashes mark end to Aleppo ceasefire https://t.co/c3XfRmXemr— The Guardian (@guardian) October 23, 2016<br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> “Fierce fighting”<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> There has been fierce fighting between insurgents and Syrian government and allied forces along a strategic frontline in southwest Aleppo.<br /><br /> In August, rebels briefly broke through the government-held strip of land to try to break a siege on rebel-held eastern Aleppo.<br /><br /> The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says there was heavy rebel shelling onto the government-controlled Hamdaniya district.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> “Air strikes”<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Air strikes within the city stopped for three days but resumed late on Saturday as the third day of the truce expired.<br /><br /> Syrian or Russian air strikes hit a number of rebel-held areas just west of Aleppo city from dawn on Sunday.<br /><br /> Air raids also hit north and west of the city, monitors say.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Why Aleppo?<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Aleppo has been a major battleground in the Syrian conflict, now in its sixth year.<br /><br /> Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, backed by the Russian military, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and groups of Shi’ite Muslim militias wants to take full control of the city.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /> The Red Cross have filmed the devastation seen on the way into Aleppo pic.twitter.com/d53SibgR8d— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) October 23, 2016<br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> FSA warning<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> The Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebel alliance says it is preparing for a big attack to break the siege of eastern Aleppo.<br /><br /> In a statement on Saturday, the alliance warned residents in and around the city to stay away from Syrian government military buildings for their own safety.<br /><br /> The FSA says it has repelled various offensives by government and allied forces along the frontline separating rebels from government-held Aleppo city late on Saturday.<br />
