Shells slammed into the northern Syrian city of Aleppo today, killing two people as thousands of government supporters gathered in a main square nearby to celebrate last month's capture of the city's eastern neighborhoods from rebels.
The shells struck a few kilometers (miles) from Saadallah al-Jabiri Square, where national music was blaring from giant loudspeakers and people danced and chanted pro-government slogans.
The gathering dispersed shortly afterward, highlighting the fragile security in the city. The capture of Aleppo on December 22 brought Syria's largest city back to the full control of Syrian authorities for the first time since July 2012, marking Assad's biggest victory since the uprising against him began nearly six years ago.
During the demonstration, a woman led the protesters in a pledge to preserve Syria and protect it against rebels and their foreign backers. About an hour later, a shell exploded in the distance, leading some of those gathered to hurry away.
Minutes later another shell exploded in the distance, causing more to leave.
"We are here to celebrate the victory in Aleppo," said housewife Faten Sawwas, as she left the square with her two daughters. "God willing the crisis is beginning to end and we will rebuild Syria."
Rebels on the western outskirts of the city have been shelling it with rockets and mortar rounds despite a cease-fire that has been in place since December 30.
Both sides have carried out attacks despite the truce, which excludes al-Qaida-linked militants and the Islamic State group.
Heavy fighting broke out today between government forces and Islamic State militants near an army base outside the militant-held town of Palmyra.
The extremists recaptured the ancient town in December from government troops nine months after IS was expelled in a Russia-backed offensive.
Opposition activists today said IS has killed 12 people it held captive in Palmyra by shooting and beheading them, with some of the slayings carried out in the city's second-century Roman amphitheater.
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