BEIRUT - Syria's army seized an area north of Aleppo on Sunday and killed insurgents in battles for the strategic territory, a group monitoring the war and state media reported.Syria's second city is at the heart of a fierce battle between pro-government forces and a range of insurgents, including al-Qaida's Syria wing, Islamist brigades and Western-backed rebels.The United Nations Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura is seeking a local ceasefire in Aleppo to allow badly-needed humanitarian assistance into the divided northern city.Insurgent-held districts have been flattened by Syrian air force bombardments, including barrel bombs - crude explosive devices packed with shrapnel and nails.Pro-government forces captured an area east of al-Malah farms outside Aleppo and is now aiming to secure parts in the west and cut off insurgent supply lines into the city, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
