Syria conflict: Troops 'mass before Aleppo battle'

The BBC's Ian Pannell travels with cheering rebels in Aleppo. His report contains unverified graphic images of the victims of Syria's conflict

Syrian rebels in Aleppo have begun stockpiling ammunition and medical supplies as government forces prepare outside the city for a major battle.

Artillery and helicopter gunships have resumed attacking rebel targets and 14 people have been killed, activists say.
Troops and tanks are said to be ringing the city and reinforcements are reportedly on their way to join them.
In Damascus, activists said the army had pounded the capital's last rebel-held areas and 20 civilians had died.
Five children and four women were killed, according to London-based pro-opposition group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, when shells hit the Yalda area. Helicopters also attacked the nearby district of Hajar al-Aswad.
The government has said its forces are trying to dislodge the "remnants of mercenary terrorist groups".

At the scene

Ian Pannell BBC News, outside Aleppo

It is almost inconceivable that President Assad could allow his government to lose control of the city, so it is reasonable to expect that they are going to throw everything they possibly can at the city.
And that is what they are preparing for here. One of the neighbourhoods is appealing for more blood supplies. We are hearing reports of hundreds, possibly thousands of families leaving some districts. Everybody is bracing themselves for an intensive campaign.
The way it has worked in other cities is that there is an intensive bombardment by artillery and mortars, and then when it starts to go calm, tanks begin to roll in. This is a very congested heavily populated area, so it will be bloody.