The London Based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights announced on Sunday that militants from the Nusra Front (Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) and its allied terrorists of Faylaq al-Sham mounted an attack to recapture the strategic Castello Road on Thursday.

It added that Syrian army soldiers launched a counter-offensive, killing 29 extremists and foiling their attack.

“The attack has ended and the road remains completely closed,” said Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman.

The Castello Road was effectively severed by Syrian forces Thursday when they seized a hilltop within firing range of the key supply route.

By Saturday, the army soldiers were within 500 meters of the road and firing on any vehicle attempting to use it.

The capture of the Castello Road came in the wake of recent recapture of al-Mallah Farms area northwest of Aleppo by the Syrian army in the.

The capture of Mallah Farms and Castello Road enabled Syrian forces to besiege militant-held neighborhoods of Aleppo and puts them within the firing range of the army.

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