Fierce fighting has broken out in the al Zahra neighbourhood of northwestern Aleppo.<br /><br /> Opposition fighters launched a counter-offensive on government-held parts of the city on Friday.<br /><br /> A Syrian pro-rebel media outlet announced on Saturday rebels had taken the residential suburb of Dahiyet al-Assad.<br /><br /> “In the name of Allah the Merciful, since yesterday we have taken over Dahiyet Al-Assad and have liberated it entirely and thank God for this and now we are on the outskirts of Al-Academia,” a rebel spokesman told reporters.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> The dead and injured<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Activists say more than 15 civilians have been killed and 100 wounded by rebel shelling sicne the counter-offensive began on Friday.<br /><br /> State media say seven people have died.<br /><br /> There are conflicting accounts of advances in areas on Aleppo’s outskirts.<br /><br /> While the insurgents claim to have taken Dahiyet al-Assad, a Syrian military source says the army and its allies have thwarted what he calls “an extensive attack” on south and west Aleppo.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Aleppo – in depth<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Debris can be seen littering the streets of what is said to be Dahiyet al-Assad.<br /><br /> A Syrian pro-rebel media outlet said on Saturday rebels had taken the area of western Aleppo in a counter-offensive on government-held parts of the city.<br /><br /> Syrian rebels, including jihadists, launched an offensive on Friday. Their aim is to break a weeks-long siege on eastern Aleppo.<br /><br /> Activists say more than 15 civilians have been killed and 100 wounded by rebel shelling of the government-held west of the city.<br /><br /> State media say seven people have died.<br /><br /> There are conflicting accounts of advances in areas on the city’s outskirts.<br /><br /> Some claim the insurgents have taken part of the residential suburb of Dahiyet al-Assad.<br /><br /> Others say most of it has been taken.<br /><br /> However, a Syrian military source says the army and its allies have thwarted what he calls “an extensive attack” on south and west Aleppo.<br /><br /> State television is reporting the army has destroyed four car bombs.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Iraqi Shi’ite militia<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> A coalition of Iranian-backed Iraqi Shi’ite militia plans to cross the border into Syria to fight alongside President Bashar al-Assad after “clearing” ISIL militants from Iraq.<br /><br /> Iraqi Shi’ite militia are already fighting on Assad’s side in the country’s conflict.<br /><br /> The coalition is currently participating in an Iraqi government offensive to recapture the northern city of Mosul from ISIL.<br /><br /> The announcement by the coalition, known as Hashid Shaabi or Popular Mobilisation, would formalise its involvement in Syria.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> What they are saying<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> “After clearing all our land from these terrorist gangs, we are fully ready to go to any place that contains a threat to Iraqi national security,” – Ahmed al-Asadi, spokesman for the Shi’ite coalition.<br />
