Government forces stormed a rebel-held town outside Damascus Tuesday, Aug 21 after days of fierce fighting, killing at least 23 fighters according to an activist group and a rebel spokesman, The Associated Press reports.

The Local Coordination Committees activist group and a rebel spokesman said regime troops entered the rebel-held town of Moadamiyeh at dawn from four points but the report could not be confirmed.

Moadamiyeh, west of the capital Damascus, has been under siege for more than two weeks. Its capture followed days of intense fighting and shelling by government troops.

In northern Syria, an activist said warplanes and helicopters attacked a number of towns and villages north of Aleppo early Tuesday, killing two civilians, including a young boy, and damaging homes. Several people were wounded.