Activists claim Syrian rebels have captured 32 pro-government soldiers in the midst of ongoing battles in Aleppo, reports Associated Press.
Both the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Aleppo-based activist Ahmad Hamed claim the troops were captured from two villages reclaimed by rebel forces in recent days. The villages were specified as Ratian and Hardatnein.
Now fierce battles for a third village, called Bashkoy, are under way as rebels try to recapture the area from the Syrian army.
Earlier this week the UN envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, proposed a "freeze plan" which would establish a six week cease-fire in an area of Aleppo to quell some of the violence and allow for more humanitarian aid to enter the war-gripped city. The Syrian government has agreed to the plan, but the rebels have no yet conceded.
