SYRIA_ Battle for Aleppo

Battle for Aleppo intensifies Syrian conflict With 200,000 fleeing Aleppo, fighting in Syria intensified in the 16-month long struggle opposing the rule of Bashar al-Assad. Whilefighting still grips Homs after a brutal siege, the conflict has movednorth to finally include commercial hub Aleppo - largely spared untilnow - a city of over two million. Both the Syrian army and the rebelFree Syrian Army claim advances in the battle for Aleppo, whichbegan in earnest over the weekend. More pockets of conflict rage inother locations within Syria as well. Gathered here are images madeavailable in the last week from Syria, where independent newscoverage has been limited and difficult. Some of the images are fromthird parties and transmitted without confirmation via internationalwire services as they were received. - Lane Turner (32 photos total)

A portrait of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad burns duringclashes between rebels and Syrian troops in Selehattin, nearAleppo, on July 23, 2012. (Bulent Kilic/AFP/GettyImages)

Doctors treat a wounded child allegedly injured by Syrian governmentforces shelling, at a field hospital in Qusayr on July 14, 2012. (Syrianopposition Shaam News Network/AFP/GettyImages) #

Syrian men line up to buy bread at the only open bakery left in Al-Bueda on July 23, 2012.(Antonio Pampliega/AFP/GettyImages) #

A Syrian rebel enters a house in Selehattin, near Aleppo, on July 23, 2012, during fightingbetween rebels and Syrian troops. (Bulent Kilic/AFP/GettyImages) #

Syrian rebels hunt for snipers after attacking the municipality building in the city center ofSelehattin, near Aleppo, on July 23, 2012. (Bulent Kilic/AFP/GettyImages) #

Syrians run for cover as a helicopter hovers over Aleppo on July 24, 2012.(Bulent Kilic/AFP/GettyImages) #

A Syrian girl lies on top of luggage at a makeshift refugeecamp inside Iraq after crossing the Iraqi-Syrian border atAlbu Kamal-Qaim, the main border post between the twocountries, July 24, 2012. (Saad Shalash/Reuters) #

Syrian rebels break their fast with the iftar meal during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan inthe northern city of Aleppo on July 24, 2012. (Bulent Kilic/AFP/GettyImages) #

A girl pauses on a street in Homson July 25, 2012. (YazenHomsy/Reuters) #

Fighters from the Syrian opposition rest in a former primary school in Aleppo on July 25, 2012.UN chief Ban Ki-moon urged the world "to stop the slaughter." (Bulent Kilic/AFP/GettyImages) #

The mother of Usame Mircan, who was allegedly killed by a Syrian government sniper, mourns over his bodywith family and friends in Aleppo on July 25, 2012. (Bulent Kilic/AFP/GettyImages) #

Civilians take cover as fighters from the Syrian opposition clash with forces loyal to PresidentBashar al-Assad in Aleppo on July 25, 2012. (Bulent Kilic/AFP/GettyImages) #

Free Syrian Army opposition fighters detain policemen after overrunning the Shaar districtpolice station in Aleppo on July 25, 2012. (Pierre Torres/AFP/GettyImages) #

A Syrian man carries badly wounded five-year-old Mohammed Amumrej after hewas hurt during shelling by Syrian government forces in the center of Aleppo lateon July 25, 2012. The boy later died. (Bulent Kilic/AFP/GettyImages) #

Opposition fighters prepare home-made firebombs in Aleppo where rebel forces overranthe Shaar district police station on July 25, 2012. (Pierre Torres/AFP/GettyImages) #

Syrian people leave the city center after shelling by Syrian government forces in Aleppo late onJuly 26, 2012. (Bulent Kilic/AFP/GettyImages) #

Members of a Syrian refugee family walk through the Domiz refugee camp in the northern Iraqi of provinceDohuk on July 25, 2012. The number of refugees that have fled to Iraqs Kurdistan region exceeds 11,000.(Thaier al-Sudani/Reuters) #

A Syrian refugee familyrests inside at the Domizrefugee camp in Dohukprovince in Iraq on July 25,2012. (Thaier al-Sudani/Reuters) #

A Syrian refugee girl looks out from behind the fence at Yayladagi refugee camp in Hatayprovince, near the Turkish-Syrian border, on July 27, 2012. (Umit Bektas/Reuters) #

Syrian mourners bury the body of a man killed in violence in Binnish in the northeasternprovince of Idlib on July 26, 2012. (Syrian opposition Shaam News Network/AFP/GettyImages) #

Women react at the graves of theirsons, whom activists say were killedby forces loyal to Syrias PresidentBashar Al-Assad, in a cemetery inHoms on July 27, 2012. (Syrianopposition Shaam NewsNetwork/Reuters) #

A man mourns over the body of a personallegedly killed during bombardment bygovernment forces in Qusayr, near Homs,on July 27, 2012. (Syrian opposition ShaamNews Network/AFP/GettyImages) #

Syrian Kurds stand in the street in Jinderes, near Aleppo, on July 22, 2012, as Kurdish activists on the Syria-Turkey border started taking control of towns in the area without encountering much resistance from theforces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. (Bulent Kilic/AFP/GettyImages) #

A Free Syrian Army member takes position while people flee after hearing shelling in the Aleppodistrict of al- Sukkari on July 29, 2012. (Zohra Bensemra/Reuters) #

Free Syrian Army members interrogate a man who was arrested while stealing from vacanthouses in Aleppo on July 29, 2012. (Zohra Bensemra/Reuters) #

A Free Syrian Army member walks past the bodyof what they say is a member of SyrianPresident Bashar al-Assads shabiha militia inthe Aleppo district of al-Sukkari on July 29,2012. (Zohra Bensemra/Reuters) #

Girls walk on debris next to damaged buildings in Marat al-Numan near the northern province ofIdlib on July 27, 2012. (Syrian opposition Shaam News Network/Reuters) #

Fighters carrying food supplies run for cover along a street in the Salaheddin district of Aleppoon July 29, 2012. (Pierre Torres/AFP/GettyImages) #

Syrian rebel fighters celebrate on top of a tank captured from government forces at a checkpoint in thevillage of Anadan, near Aleppo, on July 30 2012, after a 10-hour battle. The strategic checkpoint of Anadansecures the rebel fighters free movement between the northern city of Aleppo and Turkey. (IskandarKat/AFP/GettyImages) #

A rebel fighter aims his rifle in the Salaheddin district of Aleppo on July 29, 2012. (PierreTorres/AFP/GettyImages) #

A Free Syrian Army member stands near a destroyed Government army truck in Attarib, on the outskirts of Aleppo province July 30, 2012. REUTERS/Zohra BensemraPeople ride past adestroyed building duringclashes between SyrianPresident Bashar al-Assadsforces and the Free SyrianArmy in Attarib, on theoutskirts of Aleppoprovince July 30, 2012.REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

A destroyed tank of Syrian President Bashar al Assads forces is seen after clashes with the Free Syrian Army in the Rasten area, near Homs July 29, 2012. REUTERS/Fadi ZaidanA Free Syrian Armymember stands by hisanti-aircraft machinegun during their patrolin Attarib, on theoutskirts of Aleppoprovince July 30, 2012.REUTERS/ZohraBensemra

A damaged tank of Syrian President Bashar al Assads forces is seen after clashes with the Free Syrian Army in the north of Rasten bridge, near Homs July 29, 2012. REUTERS/Fadi ZaidanA destroyed tank of SyrianPresident Bashar al Assadsforces is seen after clasheswith the Free Syrian Army inthe north of Rasten bridge,near Homs July 29, 2012.REUTERS/Fadi Zaidan

A burnt bus which belonged to forces loyal to Syria President Bashar Al Assad is seen at Aleppos district of al Sakhour July 29, 2012. REUTERS/Shaam News Network/HandoutA boy walks past an anti-aircraft machine gunbelonging to Free SyrianArmy members in Attarib, onthe outskirts of Aleppoprovince July 30, 2012.REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

A girl walks past a shop which was destroyed during clashes between Syrian President Bashar al-Assads forces and the Free Syrian Army in Attarib, on the outskirts of Aleppo province July 30, 2012. REUTERS/Zohra BensemraA woman carries her childwhile walking through therubble in Attarib, on theoutskirts of Aleppoprovince July 30, 2012.REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

Free Syrian Army members patrol Attarib, on Damaged buildings are seen at Marat al-the outskirts of Aleppo province July 30, Numan near the northern province of Idlib2012. July 27, 2012. Picture taken July 27, 2012.REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra REUTERS/Shaam News Network/Handout

A Free Syrian Army member shows a shell A member of the Free Syrian Army carrieswhich he said was fired by Syrian President ammunition as he prepares for their patrol inBashar al-Assads forces in Attarib, as a boy Attarib, on the outskirts of Aleppo provincewatches, on the outskirts of Aleppo province July 30, 2012.July 30, 2012. REUTERS/Zohra BensemraREUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

Damaged buildings are seen at Al-Assali A man poses near a damaged Syrian armyneighbourhood in Damascus July 28, tank in the Damascus suburb of al-Tel July 28,2012. 2012. Picture taken July 28, 2012.REUTERS/Shaam News Network/Handout REUTERS/Shaam News Network/Handout

A destroyed Syrian army tank is seen in the A damaged building is seen in DeraaDamascus suburb of al-Tel July 28, 2012. July 28, 2012.REUTERS/Shaam News Network/Handout REUTERS/Shaam News Network/Handout

A damaged vehicle is seen at Deraa July 28, Damaged buildings are seen in Al-Rasten near2012. Homs July 27, 2012.REUTERS/Shaam News Network/Handout REUTERS/Shaam News Network/Handout

Demonstrators hold opposition flag during a protest against SyriasDemonstrators burn Presient Bashar Al-a photograph of Assad at Yabroud nearSyrias President Damascus July 27,Bashar al-Assad 2012.during a protest at REUTERS/Shaam NewsYabroud near Network/HandoutDamascus July 27,2012.REUTERS/ShaamNewsNetwork/Handout Demonstrators hold opposition flag during a protest against Syrias Presient Bashar Al- Qusayr, near the Lebanon Assad at Yabroud near border and close to the Damascus July 27, restive city of Homs, has been 2012. savaged by artillery REUTERS/Shaam News bombardments from Network/Handout government forces.

A woman walks throughrubble from a buildingdestroyed by shelling fromforces loyal to SyrianPresident Bashar Al-Assadin downtown AleppoAugust 1, 2012.REUTERS/Goran Tomasevi

Men run during shelling by forces loyalto Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad indowntown Aleppo August 1, 2012.REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic

Free Syrian Army fighterstake a break from fightingwith forces loyal to SyrianPresident Bashar Al-Assadin downtown AleppoAugust 1, 2012.REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic A Free Syrian Army fighter is wounded during a fight with forces loyal to Syrian A Free Syrian Army fighter holds his President Bashar Al-Assad in gun during a fight with forces loyal to downtown Aleppo August 1, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad in 2012. downtown Aleppo August 1, 2012. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic

A Free Syrian Army fighter holds his gun during a fight with forces loyal to SyrianPresident Bashar Al-Assad indowntown Aleppo August 1, 2012. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic

Members of Free Syrian Armystand with their injuredcomrade after evacuating himfrom Aleppo on the outskirtsof Idlib province August 1,2012.REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

A Free Syrian Army fighter holds his RPGduring a fight with forces loyal to SyrianPresident Bashar Al-Assad in downtownAleppo August 1, 2012.REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic A member of the Free Syrian Army flashes the victory sign on a captured tank after taking control of a checkpoint from government forces in Anadan, north Aleppo, July 31, 2012. REUTERS/Obeida Al Naimi

A member of the FreeSyrian Army fires hisweapon at a sniperposition during clasheswith forces loyal toPresident Bashar Al-Assad in Alepposdistrict of Salah EdinneJuly 31, 2012.REUTERS/ZohraBensemra

A member of the Free Syrian Armyfires his weapon at forces loyalPresident Bashar Al-Assad in Alepposdistrict of Salah Edinne, July 31, 2012.REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

A man cycles past a destroyed Syrian Army compound in Azaz, north of Aleppo, August 3, 2012. REUTERS/Goran TomasevicA boy plays withan AK-47 rifleowned by hisfather in Azaz,north of Aleppo,August 3, 2012.REUTERS/GoranTomasevic

A sniper from the Free Syrian Army takes position in Aleppo, July 29, 2012. REUTERS/Obeida Al NaimiA building burns after shelling at Aleppos district of al Sukkari, July 29, 2012. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

A boy climbs onto a destroyed Syrian Army tank in front of a mosque destroyed during clashes in Azaz, north of Aleppo August 3, 2012. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic A man looks at a destroyed SyrianArmy tank in Azaz, north of Aleppo, August 3, 2012. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic

A Free Syrian Army fighter gestures during a fight with forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad in downtown Aleppo August 1, 2012. REUTERS/Goran TomasevicA Free Syrian Army member walks at acheckpoint on the outskirts of Aleppo, July29, 2012.REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra