Syrian regime forces recaptured territory overnight in the southwest suburbs of Aleppo, rolling back the short-lived gains of an opposition offensive, AFP reported Wednesday (July 3rd).

Opposition fighters from several groups, including al-Nusra Front (ANF), launched an assault Sunday in a bid to ease a regime siege of opposition held districts, but regime fighters fought back, retaking several positions.

Regime forces seized two hilltops and two small villages in the southwest suburbs of Aleppo late Tuesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The Observatory said more than 50 opposition fighters had been killed since the assault began, as well as dozens of regime troops.

Overnight, at least 10 civilians, including four children, were killed in opposition shelling of regime-controlled districts on Aleppo's southwestern edges, and more than 40 civilians have been killed since Sunday, the Observatory said.

Meanwhile, the Middle East and North Africa regional director for UNICEF, Saad Houry, called Wednesday for the protection of all children in Aleppo.

He said in a statement that in the eastern part of the city, 300,000 people, a third of them children, have been trapped since early July.

"We call on all parties to the conflict to grant us unhindered humanitarian access to children and families wherever they are located across the city," he said.