Russia: Rebel Attack Repelled Near Syria's Aleppo

Russia says Syrian government troops, supported by Russian air forces, have repelled an offensive by "terrorists" on the northern fringes of Syria's largest city of Aleppo.

The Russian Defense Ministry said 40 attackers were killed in the fighting in the Al-Shqeif area early on September 20.

Infantry fighting vehicles and pickup trucks carrying machine guns were also destroyed, it added.

On September 19, Syria's military declared a one-week cease-fire brokered by the United States and Russia over.

Russia's military said it was "senseless" for the Syrian Army to respect the truce unilaterally, while being attacked by rebels.

Meanwhile, the U.S. government has expressed "outrage" over an attack on an aid convoy near Aleppo that Syrian activists said killed at least 12 people.

The UN confirmed the convoy was hit, but it was unclear whose aircraft were behind the strike.

Based on reporting by Reuters and Interfax