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| Syria war: Thousands fleeing fighting mass at Turkey border | Syria war: Thousands fleeing fighting mass at Turkey border |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least 15,000 Syrian refugees fleeing fighting in northern Aleppo province have gathered at a border crossing with Turkey, UN and Turkish officials said. | At least 15,000 Syrian refugees fleeing fighting in northern Aleppo province have gathered at a border crossing with Turkey, UN and Turkish officials said. |
| The frontier is shut but Turkey has said it is prepared to feed and shelter the refugees. | The frontier is shut but Turkey has said it is prepared to feed and shelter the refugees. |
| In the past few days, the Syrian army backed by Russian air power has made a series of gains in Aleppo province. | In the past few days, the Syrian army backed by Russian air power has made a series of gains in Aleppo province. |
| The advance threatens to encircle the city of Aleppo, Syria's largest, landing a major blow to the rebels. | The advance threatens to encircle the city of Aleppo, Syria's largest, landing a major blow to the rebels. |
| Nato has accused Russia of "undermining" Syrian peace efforts through its strikes, which it says are mainly aimed at opposition groups. | |
| But Russia insists it only targets what it calls terrorists. | But Russia insists it only targets what it calls terrorists. |
| According to the UN, up to 20,000 Syrians have gathered at the Bab al-Salam border crossing. | According to the UN, up to 20,000 Syrians have gathered at the Bab al-Salam border crossing. |
| "Humanitarian organisations are responding to the needs of those displaced, but ongoing military conflict is making access to populations in need increasingly difficult," the UN's Linda Tom told the AFP news agency. | "Humanitarian organisations are responding to the needs of those displaced, but ongoing military conflict is making access to populations in need increasingly difficult," the UN's Linda Tom told the AFP news agency. |
| She said another 5,000-10,000 displaced people had gathered at Azaz, a north-western Syrian city close to the Turkish frontier. | She said another 5,000-10,000 displaced people had gathered at Azaz, a north-western Syrian city close to the Turkish frontier. |
| The Syrian war and Aleppo | |
| March 2011: Anti-government protests erupt across Syria, but Aleppo is initially untouched due to a state crackdown | |
| February 2012: As the rebellion turns into a conflict, clashes between rebels and the government are reported with increasing frequency in Aleppo province | |
| July 2012: The battle for Aleppo begins. Rebels make swift advances, but are unable to consolidate their gains and the city becomes divided | |
| 2013: The government begins bombarding rebel districts with barrel bombs, causing thousands of casualties | |
| September 2015: Syria launches a fresh offensive in the wake of Russia's intervention in the conflict | |
| February 2016: The government captures towns north of Aleppo, threatening to encircle the city | |
| Aleppo profile | |
| Separately, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said 15,000 people had arrived at the border. | Separately, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said 15,000 people had arrived at the border. |
| In a televised speech, he said Turkey would not leave them "without food or shelter" but would not say if they would be allowed in. | In a televised speech, he said Turkey would not leave them "without food or shelter" but would not say if they would be allowed in. |
| Friday saw further gains for the Syrian government on the ground, recapturing the town of Ratyan, north of Aleppo. | Friday saw further gains for the Syrian government on the ground, recapturing the town of Ratyan, north of Aleppo. |
| Earlier in the week, it claimed a major victory by breaking the rebel siege of two towns in Aleppo province, severing an opposition supply line from Turkey to Aleppo city. | Earlier in the week, it claimed a major victory by breaking the rebel siege of two towns in Aleppo province, severing an opposition supply line from Turkey to Aleppo city. |
| "It feels like a siege of Aleppo is about to begin," said a spokesman for aid group Mercy Corps, David Evans, who said the main humanitarian route was cut off. | "It feels like a siege of Aleppo is about to begin," said a spokesman for aid group Mercy Corps, David Evans, who said the main humanitarian route was cut off. |
| Since 2012, Aleppo has been divided into rebel and government-held areas. Before the conflict it was a key commercial centre and home to over two million people. | Since 2012, Aleppo has been divided into rebel and government-held areas. Before the conflict it was a key commercial centre and home to over two million people. |
| What is the Syria conflict? | What is the Syria conflict? |
| Why is there a war in Syria? | Why is there a war in Syria? |
| Anti-government protests developed into a civil war that, four years on, has ground to a stalemate, with the Assad government, the so-called Islamic State group, an array of Syrian rebels and Kurdish fighters all holding territory. | Anti-government protests developed into a civil war that, four years on, has ground to a stalemate, with the Assad government, the so-called Islamic State group, an array of Syrian rebels and Kurdish fighters all holding territory. |
| Who is fighting whom? | Who is fighting whom? |
| Government forces concentrated in Damascus and the centre and west of Syria are fighting the jihadists of Islamic State and al-Nusra Front, as well as less numerous so-called "moderate" rebel groups, which are strongest in the north and east. These groups are also battling each other. | Government forces concentrated in Damascus and the centre and west of Syria are fighting the jihadists of Islamic State and al-Nusra Front, as well as less numerous so-called "moderate" rebel groups, which are strongest in the north and east. These groups are also battling each other. |
| What's the human cost? | What's the human cost? |
| More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed and a million injured. Some 11 million others have been forced from their homes, of whom four million have fled abroad - including growing numbers who are making the dangerous journey to Europe. | More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed and a million injured. Some 11 million others have been forced from their homes, of whom four million have fled abroad - including growing numbers who are making the dangerous journey to Europe. |
| How has the world reacted? | How has the world reacted? |
| Iran, Russia and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement are propping up the Alawite-led Assad government, while Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar back the more moderate Sunni-dominated opposition, along with the US, UK and France. Hezbollah and Iran are believed to have troops and officers on the ground, while a Western-led coalition and Russia are carrying out air strikes. | Iran, Russia and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement are propping up the Alawite-led Assad government, while Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar back the more moderate Sunni-dominated opposition, along with the US, UK and France. Hezbollah and Iran are believed to have troops and officers on the ground, while a Western-led coalition and Russia are carrying out air strikes. |