Syrian rebels attack Aleppo security compounds

A rebel group comprised of Syrian army defectors launched an attack against security compounds in Aleppo, as anti-government forces targeted air bases, activists said Friday, according to the Associated Press.

The AP noted that the news of the highly coordinated attacks by the Brigade of Free Syrians suggests the Assad regime's opposition is becoming more bold as the civil war continues.

A local rebel commander also said rebels controlled more than half of Aleppo, despite a month of fighting and aerial bombardment, according to Reuters.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in Britain, also said that the rebel assaults in Aleppo had resulted in government casualties, thought it gave no figures, according to Voice of America.

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When President Bashar al-Assad sent reinforcements to Syria's largest city in July to seize control back from the rebels, the authorities claimed the army's mission would be complete in days.

The army has used air power, artillery and ground forces to push rebels into strategic southwestern districts, Reuters reported.

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Major Anas Ibrahim Abu Zaid of the Fatah Brigade told Reuters, "If we hold our ground and continue the attacks, the longer we do that (the more) the regime will lose on the international, regional and local fronts, and the position of the rebels will firm up and give us a chance to re-arm."

The Syrian Observatory also said rebels and government troops were fighting north of Damascus and in Albu Kamal, on the Iraqi border, according to VOA.

Syria's neighbors appealed to the United Nations Security Council for help in dealing with the more than 200,000 war refugees flooding into Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan.