Syrian attack helicopters turned their machineguns on eastern districts of Aleppo for the first time in the latest fighting on Tuesday, extending the army’s campaign to control the country’s biggest city, but rebel fighters claimed troops loyal to President Bashar Al Assad had been forced to retreat. Large clouds of black smoke rose into the sky after attack helicopters turned their machineguns on eastern districts for the first time in the latest fighting and a MiG warplane later strafed the same area. The army and rebels deployed a large number of reinforcements to Aleppo for a “decisive battle” that is seen lasting for several weeks, a Damascus security source said. Humanitarian conditions have grown even more dire in Aleppo, with activists reporting on Tuesday dwindling stocks of food and cooking gas and only intermittent electricity supplies. From: The Gulf today