Free Syrian Army rebels in Homs. (Wikimedia Commons)

Forces loyal to President Bashar Assad have attacked Aleppo's southwest district of Salahedin, according to The Guardian.

The outcome of the offensive is still unclear, though rebel forces claim they have destroyed five tanks.

A colonel and brigadier in Assad's army who defected provided the rebels with advance warning about the attack.  

CNN has a video report from Tuesday that shows the apocalyptic conditions in Aleppo, Syria's largest city.

They report that the rebels are fighting the government's reinforcements without their own heavy weaponry. 

Assad's forces are attacking the rebels with airborne attacks and heavy shelling.

Read more of Neon Tommy's coverage on Syria here.

Reach Executive Producer Michael Juliani here; follow him on Twitter here.