Syrian Forces Pound Rebel Positions in Aleppo

The Syrian army continued its attacks on rebel positions Sunday in the northern city of Aleppo with heavy shelling and helicopter gunships.

The country’s biggest city has become a key battleground in the nearly year and a half uprising against President Bashar al-Assad’s rule, as government forces reportedly mass ahead of what is expected to be a strong offensive against the opposition. Human rights organizations say more than two dozen people were killed in clashes across the country Saturday. ​​Iranian media said Sunday Tehran has asked Turkey and Qatar to help secure the release of 48 Iranian national kidnapped Saturday in Damascus. Iran has described the victims as religious pilgrims. However, al-Arabiya television says the Syrian rebels have described them as elite Iranian Revolutionary Guards.