The Syrian army has retreated from some military positions it was controlling in the southern countryside of Aleppo province. Syrian media reported on Saturday that the government forces are repositioning behind new defense lines.

On Saturday evening, Al-Qaeda-linked rebels launched a sweeping offensive against a number of adjacent military colleges, mainly the Artillery College base.  Government forces have been conducting a siege in the eastern part of Aleppo city for three weeks.  The evening attack is the seventh attempt by the rebels to break it.