Syrian troops reach government-held central Aleppo prison, ending monthslong siege by rebels

BEIRUT – A Syrian activist group and pro-government television stations are reporting that troops have reached the rebel-besieged prison in the northern city of Aleppo.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says government forces entered the prison that had been under rebel siege since April 2013 early Thursday.

Lebanon’s Al-Mayadeen and Al-Manar television stations, which are close to the Syrian government and have reporters in different parts of Syria, confirmed troops were able to end the siege imposed on the prison.

The sprawling prison, which holds an estimated 4,000 inmates, has witnessed deadly clashes between government and opposition forces for the past year.

Rebels repeatedly have barrelled suicide car bombs into the front gates and clashed with guards and troops holed up inside in an effort to capture the prison.