Syrian regime forces have repelled a fierce assault by opposition
 fighters seeking to reopen their only supply route into Aleppo city,
 killing at least 29 rebels, a monitoring group said Sunday. 

The offensive sought to push government forces back from the 
Castello Road that leads into the opposition-held eastern half of
 Aleppo city, which is now effectively besieged by government troops. 

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 29 fighters from the 
Faylaq al-Sham rebel group and al-Qaeda affiliate al-Nusra Fron
t were killed in fighting or by mines laid by government troops. 

The UK-based Observatory group said there were also deaths 
among government troops, but had no immediate toll. 

"The attack has ended and the road remains completely closed," 
the group's chief, Rami Abdel Rahman, said.
Aleppo has been divided between government 
and rebel control for several years [FILE: Reuters]
The Castello Road was effectively cut-off by government forces on 
Thursday when they seized a hilltop within range of the key supply 
line. By Saturday, regime soldiers were within 500m of the road 
and firing on any vehicle trying to use it. 

The Observatory said at least one car was targeted on the road early 
on Sunday, adding that it was unclear if it carried civilians or fighters. 

The regime also shelled the road later on Sunday, it said. On Friday,
a man and his two sons were killed by regime forces on the road, the
 monitor said.
An AFP correspondent in eastern Aleppo said opposition factions 
were preventing civilians from using the route. Ongoing government 
artillery fire and barrel bomb attacks were reported in the east of the
 city early Sunday.
About 200,000 people remain in the eastern part of Aleppo, which 
has been divided between government and rebel control since shortly 
after fighting in the city erupted in mid-2012. 

President Bashar al-Assad's forces have been trying to cut the Castello 
Road for more than two years in an attempt to pressure rebel forces 
in the city. 

Their advance on Thursday has left residents of the east cut off, with 
supplies of basic items including food and fuel starting to run low
 and fears of a lengthy government siege. 

Syria's government has been accused of using sieges to pressure 
rebel forces, and the UN says nearly 600,000 Syrians live in besieged
 areas, most surrounded by government forces although rebels also
 use the tactic. 

In the wake of the government advance, rebel forces on Friday retaliated 
with waves of rocket fire into the regime-held west of Aleppo, killing 
45 people, according to Syria's state news agency SANA.
Source: Agencies