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Aleppo airstrikes resume as Russia announces major Syria offensive Aleppo airstrikes resume as Russia announces major Syria offensive
(35 minutes later)
Airstrikes have hit rebel-held neighbourhoods in eastern Aleppo for the first time in weeks, as Russia announced the start of a major operation in the Syrian provinces of Idlib and Homs involving its aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov.Airstrikes have hit rebel-held neighbourhoods in eastern Aleppo for the first time in weeks, as Russia announced the start of a major operation in the Syrian provinces of Idlib and Homs involving its aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov.
The Aleppo strikes killed at least three people, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. The Aleppo strikes killed at least three people, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. “Regime aircraft launched strikes and dropped barrel bombs on a number of neighbourhoods in the east of Aleppo for the first time since 18 October,” said Rami Abdel Rahman, the monitoring group’s director.
The offensive began hours after the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and US president-elect, Donald Trump, discussed Syria over the phone and agreed on the need to combine efforts in the fight against what the Kremlin called “international terrorism and extremism.”The offensive began hours after the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and US president-elect, Donald Trump, discussed Syria over the phone and agreed on the need to combine efforts in the fight against what the Kremlin called “international terrorism and extremism.”
The Russian defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, said on Tuesday Russia had launched new missile strikes against Islamic State militants in Syria, using missiles and jets flying from the Admiral Kuznetsov, which made a much-publicised trip from Russia to Syria’s shores last month. Shoigu made no mention of Aleppo, where Isis has no presence. The Russian defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, said on Tuesday Russia had launched new missile strikes against Islamic State (Isis) militants in Syria, using missiles and jets flying from the Admiral Kuznetsov, which made a much-publicised trip from Russia to Syria’s shores last month.
Syrian state television said Syria’s airforce had carried out strikes against what it called terrorist strongholds and supply depots in the old city. Shoigu made no mention of Aleppo, where Isis has no presence, but the Observatory said missiles fired from Russian warships in the Mediterranean had struck areas in both Aleppo and Idlib provinces.
Syrian state television said Syria’s airforce had carried out strikes against what it called terrorist strongholds and supply depots in Aleppo.
“Our houses are shaking from the pressure. Planes are soaring above us and the bombardment is around us,” said Modar Shekho, a resident of eastern Aleppo.“Our houses are shaking from the pressure. Planes are soaring above us and the bombardment is around us,” said Modar Shekho, a resident of eastern Aleppo.
Activist Baraa al-Halaby, who is based in eastern Aleppo, said via text messages that warplanes were firing missiles and helicopters were dropping barrel bombs. “People are scared. The bombardment is intense.”Activist Baraa al-Halaby, who is based in eastern Aleppo, said via text messages that warplanes were firing missiles and helicopters were dropping barrel bombs. “People are scared. The bombardment is intense.”
The city has become the fiercest front in Syria’s five-and-a-half-year war, pitting President Bashar al-Assad’s forces, supported by Russia, Iran and Shia militias, against mostly Sunni rebels including some backed by Turkey, the US and Gulf monarchies.The city has become the fiercest front in Syria’s five-and-a-half-year war, pitting President Bashar al-Assad’s forces, supported by Russia, Iran and Shia militias, against mostly Sunni rebels including some backed by Turkey, the US and Gulf monarchies.
The city has been divided for years between a government-held western sector and rebel-held eastern districts. It has been divided for years between a government-held western sector and rebel-held eastern districts.
The army and its allies managed to besiege eastern Aleppo this summer and launched a big offensive backed by a heavy bombardment in September, but in recent weeks Moscow has said it was observing a pause in airstrikes. The bombardment of east Aleppo ended a period of relative quiet for more than 250,000 people living in the besieged rebel-held side of the city.
The Syrian army and its allies managed to besiege eastern Aleppo this summer and launched a big offensive backed by a heavy bombardment in September, but in recent weeks Moscow has said it was observing a pause in airstrikes.
“It’s all air strikes and parachute bombs. Today, the bombing is violent … There hasn’t been this kind of attack in more than 15 days,” said Ibrahim Abu al-Laith, a civil defence official in the city.“It’s all air strikes and parachute bombs. Today, the bombing is violent … There hasn’t been this kind of attack in more than 15 days,” said Ibrahim Abu al-Laith, a civil defence official in the city.
The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse contributed to this report