Violence in Syria's two largest cities: Two week timeline

The main developments in fighting in Syria's capital and its second city, Aleppo, since last month

- July 15:
Heavy clashes in Damascus, with the army firing mortar rounds into neighbourhoods where rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters are entrenched.
- July 16:
The FSA announces "Operation Damascus Volcano" and fighting spreads.
- July 17:
Helicopter gunships brought into action for the first time in Damascus.
- July 18:
Defence Minister General Daoud Rajha, President Bashar al-Assad's brother-in-law Assef Shawkat and General Hassan Turkmani, head of Syria's crisis cell, killed in a bombing at National Security headquarters. National Security chief General Hisham Ikhtiyar dies later.
- July 20:
Heavy fighting erupts in the economic capital Aleppo, which had so far been spared the violence.
- July 23:
In Damascus, regime forces, boosted by elite troops, reclaim most of the capital after a week of heavy fighting with rebels.
In Aleppo, rebels say they have "liberated" multiple neighbourhoods, including Salaheddin in the south.
- July 28:
The military launches a dawn assault on Aleppo, using helicopter gunships, artillery and tanks as well as ground troops. On July 29 rebels say they have held off the offensive.
- July 30:
Rebels seize a strategic checkpoint northwest of Aleppo, securing free movement between the city and Turkey.
In Damascus clashes in the southern district of Kfar Sousa sparked when rebels fired rocket-propelled grenades at military checkpoints.
- July 31:
Rebels attack symbols of power, taking three Aleppo police stations.
A security official says the army and rebels deployed a large number of reinforcements to Aleppo for a "decisive battle" seen lasting for several weeks.
- August 1:
In Aleppo fierce clashes take place between gunmen loyal to the regime and rebels in Bab al-Nayrab neighbourhood.
Fighting also breaks out near two Christian districts of Damascus -- Bab Tuma and Bab Sharqi -- considered to be pro-regime, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says.
A raid by Syrian security forces on Jdaidet Artuz district, southwest of Damascus, kills 43 people, some of whom were tortured and executed, the Observatory says.
- August 2:
Rebels use tanks seized from the army to attack Menagh military airport northwest of Aleppo.
- August 3:
Forces loyal to Assad move on rebel-held enclaves of Damascus, a day after shelling killed 21 civilians at the Yarmuk Palestinian refugee camp in the capital.
In the province of Damascus, new bombardments in Jdaidet Artuz, where fighting breaks out around the Marj al-Sultan military airport.
In Aleppo, rebel stronghold Salaheddin is bombarded, according to the Observatory.