It's called the 'Hell' cannon and its the weapon of choice for Syrian rebels. They're using it to fire back at the government in Hama and Aleppo according to this video posted to a social media website.

While it's no match for President Bashar al Assad's air power, rebels are using the Hell cannon to remind Damascus and Islamic State militants that, while they may be on the defensive,

they are far from defeated.

This gritty urban combat is taking its toll on locals who say they're caught in the crossfire. This Aleppo man appeals to the President's wife.

SOUNDBITE: ALEPPO RESIDENT SAYING: system.scripts.

"Miss Asma al-Assad, ask your husband about this neighborhood. It is a residential neighborhood. There are no gunmen here. We are civilians here."

And as the battles across Syria rage on, the death toll climbs. The UN says more than 191, 000 people are known to have been killed in the three year conflict..although the real figure, say officials is l