THE Syrian army launched a push to surround insurgents holding the east of Aleppo city yesterday, quickly gaining ground.

Troops backed by Lebanese Hezbollah guerillas and Palestinian Liwa al-Quds militia fighters captured the al-Mallah farms area and advanced into the Handarat Palestinian refugee camp.

Air force jets blitzed insurgents along the Castillo road north of the northern suburb of Sheikh Maqsoud, which is defended by the Kurdish YPG militia.