PHOTO: Pro-Assad fighters in the district of Awijah in Aleppo, captured last week (AFP)

UPDATE 1530 GMT: Rebels say they have reclaimed all positions in the fortified village of Ma’an in northern Hama Province, after pro-Assad forces briefly entered on Sunday.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Pro-Assad forces pressed attacks on two important fronts in Syria on Sunday.

Having re-imposed a siege on Aleppo in late August, foreign militias and the Syrian military — enabled by intense Russian-regime airstrikes, have made gains to the north of Syria’s largest city.

The offensive pressed again yesterday to constrict rebels in the east of Aleppo. The Syrian military claimed that it captured several more buildings on the frontline in the Bustan al-Basha district.

Rebels claimed that they were continuing to hold their territory in the area, which pro-Assad media said had been completely captured earlier this week.

Rebels holding off regime attacks in the Karam al-Jabal district:

Meanwhile, the Syrian military and its allies continued a fightback in neighboring northern Hama Province, recapturing at least one more village on Sunday.

Rebels have taken a series of towns and villages across a 35-km (22-mile) front, advancing to within 10 km (6 miles) of Hama city. However, they have been weakened by in-fighting in the past week.

The pro-Assad forces took advantage with the capture of several villages on Friday, and yesterday they reportedly regained al-Kabariyeh.

More importantly, the counter-offensive tried to retake the fortified village of Ma’an, captured by rebels in late September. The pro-Assad forces briefly entered before being pushed back, although fighting continues.

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Map by Agathocle de Syracuse

Video: Russian Airstrikes on Area Southwest of Damascus

Russian warplanes attack Khan al-Shih, southwest of Damascus, with incendiary missiles on Sunday:

Supported by intense Russian-regime airstrikes, pro-Assad forces have forced the capitulation of nearby al-Hamah and are pressing for the surrender of Qudsaya. Both lie on a main road leading to a large Republican Guards base.

Rebels Announce New Offensive in Northern Latakia Province

The rebel bloc Jaish al-Fatah have announced a new offensive in the mountains of northern Latakia Province, hoping to relieve pressure on the Aleppo and Hama fronts.

Pro-Assad forces took much of the area after the Russian intervention of autumn 2015 but have still not dislodged rebels from some key positions near the borders with Hama Province and with Turkey.

Rebels Put Pressure on Jihadists of Jund al-Aqsa to Dissolve

Rebels and Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra) have put pressure on the jihadists of Jund al-Asqa to dissolve faction following disastrous in-fighting.

Jund al-Aqsa began clashes with Ahrar al-Sham in northwest Syria last week with the abduction of one fighters and the killing of others.

The fighting undermined the rebel offensive in northern Hama Province, helping pro-Assad forces regain some territory lost since last August (see above).

Other rebel groups supported Ahrar al-Sham, while JFS/Nusra stepped in to mediate the conflict.

Now JFS/Nusra has said individual members of Jund al-Aqsa can be integrated, provided they promise to fight the Islamic State as well as the Assad regime. However, Jund al-Aqsa — which has been accused of infiltration by ISIS cells — will be dissolved, and that dissolution will have to be confirmed before fighters are allowed to apply for JFS/Nusra membership.

Jund al-Aqsa members involved in fighting with rebel factions will be tried in court, while those who blocked supplies to the northern Hama front will be treated as traitors.

Ahrar al-Sham has added to the pressure with the publication of video “confessions” of Jund al-Aqsa fighters, including claims of attacks on rebels and JFS/Nusra.