Reports say Syrian government forces have kept up a daylong attack in parts of the city of Aleppo, using tanks, helicopters, and fighter jets.
Rebels say they repelled an army incursion and destroyed tanks on July 28, but there was no independent verification.

There are also reports of fighting in the city of Homs and in the provinces of Hama and Deraa.

Activists said at least two dozen people have died so far in the day's fighting in Aleppo.

Meanwhile, Russia warned that a "tragedy" was looming in Aleppo, a city of more than 2 million people near the border with Turkey.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told journalists it was unrealistic to expect the government would stand by when armed rebels were occupying major cities.

Source: http://www.rferl.org based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP