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| Syria rebels 'in push to break Aleppo siege' | Syria rebels 'in push to break Aleppo siege' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Rebels in Syria have announced a big offensive aimed at breaking the government siege of east Aleppo. | Rebels in Syria have announced a big offensive aimed at breaking the government siege of east Aleppo. |
| A UK-based monitoring group says rebels fired "hundreds" of missiles on western Aleppo, killing at least 15 civilians. | A UK-based monitoring group says rebels fired "hundreds" of missiles on western Aleppo, killing at least 15 civilians. |
| In response, Russia's defence ministry asked permission from President Vladimir Putin to resume air strikes against the rebels after a 10-day pause, but he denied the request. | |
| About 275,000 people have been besieged in the east of the city for months. | About 275,000 people have been besieged in the east of the city for months. |
| Russian and Syrian government planes began bombarding the city in September. More than 2,700 people are said to have been killed and injured since then. | Russian and Syrian government planes began bombarding the city in September. More than 2,700 people are said to have been killed and injured since then. |
| Russia suspended its air campaign on 18 October to allow evacuations of sick and wounded people but few have heeded the call to leave. | Russia suspended its air campaign on 18 October to allow evacuations of sick and wounded people but few have heeded the call to leave. |
| The Russian defence ministry said continuing civilian deaths and an upsurge in rebel activity had prompted its request to resume the strikes. | The Russian defence ministry said continuing civilian deaths and an upsurge in rebel activity had prompted its request to resume the strikes. |
| However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Mr Putin did not consider it appropriate to restart the strikes but said the humanitarian pause should continue. | |
| Meanwhile US officials have confirmed reports that a Russian fighter jet and a US-led coalition plane were involved in a near miss over Syria on 17 October, coming within half a mile of each other. | Meanwhile US officials have confirmed reports that a Russian fighter jet and a US-led coalition plane were involved in a near miss over Syria on 17 October, coming within half a mile of each other. |
| 'All factions' | 'All factions' |
| The attacks are so far coming from rebels outside Aleppo but it is understood that rebels inside the city will join the offensive. | The attacks are so far coming from rebels outside Aleppo but it is understood that rebels inside the city will join the offensive. |
| "All the revolutionary factions, without exception, are participating in the battle," the military spokesman for the Fastaqim faction inside the city said, AP news agency reports. | "All the revolutionary factions, without exception, are participating in the battle," the military spokesman for the Fastaqim faction inside the city said, AP news agency reports. |
| They include Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, as well as fellow Islamists Ahrar al-Sham. | They include Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, as well as fellow Islamists Ahrar al-Sham. |
| Rebels fired Grad missiles at al-Nayrab airport, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) monitoring group said. Up to 115 people were killed or wounded, it added. | Rebels fired Grad missiles at al-Nayrab airport, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) monitoring group said. Up to 115 people were killed or wounded, it added. |
| They also detonated two car bombs against government positions to the south-west of the city. | They also detonated two car bombs against government positions to the south-west of the city. |
| The BBC understands that parts of south-western Aleppo have been captured by a group from outside the city. | The BBC understands that parts of south-western Aleppo have been captured by a group from outside the city. |
| However, the Syrian government said it had repelled offensives on several fronts around Aleppo by both rebel groups and militants from so-called Islamic State (IS). | However, the Syrian government said it had repelled offensives on several fronts around Aleppo by both rebel groups and militants from so-called Islamic State (IS). |
| "Booby-trapped cars, two tanks and a large number of armoured vehicles" were destroyed, the defence ministry said on its website. | "Booby-trapped cars, two tanks and a large number of armoured vehicles" were destroyed, the defence ministry said on its website. |
| The area around the Hmeimim air base near the coastal city of Latakia - the main airport used by the Russian air force - was also reportedly targeted by rebels, the SOHR said. | The area around the Hmeimim air base near the coastal city of Latakia - the main airport used by the Russian air force - was also reportedly targeted by rebels, the SOHR said. |
| Analysis - James Longman, BBC News, Beirut | Analysis - James Longman, BBC News, Beirut |
| The rebels said this counter-attack would come. But even though disparate groups have united for this effort, "liberating" East Aleppo won't be easy. | The rebels said this counter-attack would come. But even though disparate groups have united for this effort, "liberating" East Aleppo won't be easy. |
| They have hit an airbase and are targeting other Syrian positions in an effort to cripple any response. | They have hit an airbase and are targeting other Syrian positions in an effort to cripple any response. |
| But the Syrian army is the least of their problems - by itself, it is relatively weak. The Syrian government is supported by Lebanese, Iranian, Iraqi and Afghan Shia militias, as well as Russian air power - soon to be bolstered by a naval fleet in the Mediterranean. | But the Syrian army is the least of their problems - by itself, it is relatively weak. The Syrian government is supported by Lebanese, Iranian, Iraqi and Afghan Shia militias, as well as Russian air power - soon to be bolstered by a naval fleet in the Mediterranean. |
| One of the main rebel factions spearheading this operation is Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, which is affiliated to al-Qaeda. It is the very group the US has tried to untangle from the fighters it supports. | One of the main rebel factions spearheading this operation is Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, which is affiliated to al-Qaeda. It is the very group the US has tried to untangle from the fighters it supports. |
| This means that from a Western perspective at least, the rebels are on their own. | This means that from a Western perspective at least, the rebels are on their own. |
| The rebel offensive came as Syria's foreign minister Walid Muallem met his Russian and Iranian counterparts, Sergei Lavrov and Mohammad Javad Zarif, in Moscow. | The rebel offensive came as Syria's foreign minister Walid Muallem met his Russian and Iranian counterparts, Sergei Lavrov and Mohammad Javad Zarif, in Moscow. |
| Mr Lavrov reiterated Moscow's call for moderate rebel groups to disassociate themselves from Jabhat Fateh al-Sham. | Mr Lavrov reiterated Moscow's call for moderate rebel groups to disassociate themselves from Jabhat Fateh al-Sham. |
| He quoted US Secretary of State John Kerry as saying if this did not happen the moderate groups concerned would be considered a legitimate target. | He quoted US Secretary of State John Kerry as saying if this did not happen the moderate groups concerned would be considered a legitimate target. |
| "I think... the time has come for the logic set out by John Kerry to find some practical shape," he said. | "I think... the time has come for the logic set out by John Kerry to find some practical shape," he said. |
| It is the rebels' second attempt to break the Aleppo siege. In August they temporarily opened a corridor between the east and west after the government entirely encircled them for the first time in July. | It is the rebels' second attempt to break the Aleppo siege. In August they temporarily opened a corridor between the east and west after the government entirely encircled them for the first time in July. |
| The city, previously Syria's economic hub, has been divided between the two sides since 2012. | The city, previously Syria's economic hub, has been divided between the two sides since 2012. |