As the battle for Aleppo is entering its third week, the Syrian regime has continued pounding on Monday several areas of Syria's largest city in an attempt to reclaim areas under rebel control.

Videos by activists showed serious damages resulting from the shelling, including collapsed buildings. Two videos reportedly taken earlier on Monday show piles of rubble and people attempting to rescue victims.

Earlier, the FSA commander in Aleppo said that his fighters had captured 2 checkpoints in the Salah el Dine district, the blog EA worldview reported. Another video showed a tank and a BMO destroyed by the rebels in the Hanano district.

According to reports, regime forces appear to be preparing for an even larger assault on the commercial capital of Aleppo.

Earlier, newly-appointed Prime Minister Riyad Hijab defected from his position reportedly along with two other ministers.

Mohammed el-Etri, former PM Hijab's spokesman, has confirmed to Al Jazeera that Hijab had defected from the Syrian government and was joining the opposition.

Hijab has taken refuge in neighbouring Jordan along with family members according to official sources.

Syrian State Television said that Hijab had been dismissed ans replaced by Omar Ghalawanji to lead a temporary caretaker government. Opposition figures say the announcement of Hijab dismissal was an attempt to cover his defection.