Syrian rebels led by the al-Nusra Front have seized a key government post west of Aleppo as they press on with a wide-scale offensive aiming to take full control of the northern city, activists say.
The rebels took over all buildings inside the compound of what is called the Research Centre west of Aleppo city, according to Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the opposition British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
He said the heavy clashes have killed at least 12 rebel fighters as well as many others from government forces.
The rebels - including fighters from the al-Nusra Front, also known as Jabhat al-Nusra - made some small advances on Jamiyat al-Zahraa earlier in the day, Abdel Rahman said.
The Jamiyat al-Zahraa is a heavily defended residential area that houses several major security compounds, including the air force's intelligence division.
Syrian state media has yet to report on the attack by the jihadist rebels, who declared they set up a joint forces operation room to "liberate the city of Aleppo".
The state-run news agency SANA said government troops in Aleppo and its outskirts have killed dozens of terrorists.
Meanwhile in Syria's northern province Idlib the number of people killed in a blast near a mosque had increased to reach 25, among them a leader of the al-Nusra Front, the Observatory said.
It added that dozens were wounded and most of them are listed in critical condition.
The Syrian Revolution General Commission group said "hundreds of civilians were assembled for an Iftar gathering with the al-Nusra Front in the Salem mosque in the west of Ariha when the blast went off during evening prayers".
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