Violence drawing closer to major cities as Syria rebels make substantial gains in fierce combat

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Syria rebels cut off most roads to Aleppo

AFP – Syrian rebels aiming to encircle Aleppo virtually cut off roads to the battleground city from neighbouring Raqa province as the army targeted rebel strongholds around Damascus on Monday. After several days of fighting, the insurgents took full control of Tishrin dam on the Euphrates river.

Syrian rebel officers have formed a commission to lay the foundations for a future army and liaise with the political opposition on issues such as arming fighters on the ground, a spokesman said on Monday. The announcement came in a video posted to YouTube on Sunday which shows some 50 Free Syrian Army soldiers.