Syrian forces hammer rebels from the air as battle for Aleppo rages on

Syrian forces pounded a residential neighborhood in the northern city of Aleppo from the air Saturday, in a show of force meant to push back rebels from any gains they had in the country’s financial center.

A helicopter was seen heavily shelling the neighborhood of Salaheddine, a gateway into the city that rebels have been battling for control of for two weeks, Reuters reported.

“It was the most violent shelling of Salaheddin since the outbreak of fighting in Aleppo,” said rebel commander Col. Abdel Jabbar al-Oqaidi, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, Al Jazeera reported.

Elsewhere in the city of 2.5 million, hundreds of rebels attacked the strategic television broadcast building and were only driven off after a three-hour battle in which the government resorted to jet fighters and helicopter gunships.

Clashes were also reported around the medieval citadel, a symbol of the city that dominates its ancient center, suggesting the rebels are trying to expand their hold.

Aleppo is Syria’s commercial hub and close to the Turkish border where the rebels have their rear bases. If the opposition were to gain control, it would be a major blow to the regime and a possible opposition base of operations.

A rebel leader told Reuters his fighters were preparing for a “strong offensive” against government troops.

Battles also continued in Damascus, where heavy explosions shook the capital Saturday, and plumes of smoke rose from a neighborhood that was attacked by regime forces the night before.

“We heard heavy bombing since dawn,” a witness in Damascus told The Associated Press, asking that his name not be used out of fear for his personal safety. “Helicopters are in the sky.” By nightfall the state media reported the whole capital to be in government hands, but such announcements have in the past proved premature.