Syrian regime forces on Tuesday (July 26th) seized a rebel-held neighbourhood on the northwest outskirts of Aleppo, tightening their siege of the opposition-controlled parts of the city, AFP reported.

The government also carried out renewed barrel bomb attacks on opposition-held districts, a day after bombardments killed at least 24 people, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The Observatory said regime troops had full control of the Leramun district after heavy clashes, and reported fighting for neighbouring Bani Zeid, which is also held by rebels.

The two areas have been used by rebels to launch rockets into government-held districts in the west of the city.

In recent weeks, regime advances around the city's outskirts have severed the only remaining route into the rebel-held eastern neighbourhoods, effectively placing them under siege.

Opposition forces have responded by firing barrages of missiles into government districts, killing scores of civilians.

"The importance of capturing Leramun and Bani Zeid is to stop the missile fire and also to further tighten the siege," said Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman.

The monitor had no immediate toll in the fighting.