Syrian artillery shells Aleppo as fighting enters sixth day

Rebels believe ground forces will try and retake major city after the bombardments

BEIRUT (AP) — Activists said Syrian forces were shelling several neighborhoods in Aleppo as the battle for control of Syria’s largest city rages into its sixth day.

Most fighters believe the bombardments will be followed by a ground campaign to pacify the city, although by Thursday morning reports of massive regime reinforcements had yet to materialize.

Last week, Syrian troops used a similar combination of aerial bombardments and overwhelming ground force to quash a rebel assault on Damascus.

Local activist Mohammed Saeed told The Associated Press that the shelling seems to be random and clashes had spread to key neighborhoods in the center of the city.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fighting and shelling in Aleppo killed 26 people on Wednesday, including many children.