The battle for Aleppo is raging: the BBC reports that government troops based on the Turkish border are moving toward the city to join the fight against the Free Syrian Army, a day after fighter jets reportedly bombed the rebel positions.

I've wrote on Sunday that the significance of the clashes in Damascus and Aleppo lies not only in the FSA's new-found ability to strike at the heart of the regime, but also in winning some breathing space for rebel groups in other parts of the country. Hence the government's loosening grip on Syria's borders with Turkey and Iraq.

Ghaith Abdul-Ahad at the Guardian has produced this fascinating, first-hand account of the fighting in Deir Ezzor, the largest city in Syria's north-east. Deir Ezzor is important because of its proximity to the border with Iraq, a key source of weapons for the rebels. And while FSA commanders claim control of most of the province, regime loyalists still hold their ground, reports Ghaith.

See also:

• Syrian National Council: Can They Replace Assad?
• Syrian Opposition: Syrian Muslim Brotherhood