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Syria forces 'retake' second Aleppo area | Syria forces 'retake' second Aleppo area |
(35 minutes later) | |
Syrian government forces have retaken a second rebel-held district in eastern Aleppo, military sources say. | |
They say the army and its allies had "fully recaptured" Jabal Badro. | |
Hours earlier, rebel sources confirmed that neighbouring Hanano district had fallen and was now under government control. | Hours earlier, rebel sources confirmed that neighbouring Hanano district had fallen and was now under government control. |
Hundreds of civilians have been fleeing into the government-controlled areas of Aleppo as troops make advances into the east of the city. | Hundreds of civilians have been fleeing into the government-controlled areas of Aleppo as troops make advances into the east of the city. |
The Syrian army's offensive to retake eastern Aleppo - home to some 275,000 people - is now into its 13th day. | The Syrian army's offensive to retake eastern Aleppo - home to some 275,000 people - is now into its 13th day. |
The assault has killed 219 civilians, including 27 children, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says. | The assault has killed 219 civilians, including 27 children, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says. |
Syrian state media quoted unnamed military sources as saying that Jabal Badro, which lies immediate south of Hanano, had been fully recaptured. | |
There has been no confirmation of this from the rebel side. | |
Analysis: By Sebastian Usher, BBC's Arab Affairs Editor | |
This is the biggest blow so far to rebels in Aleppo. They seem to be losing ground quickly to pro-government forces attacking them from the east in an offensive only opened in the past two weeks of renewed fighting. | |
The loss of Hanano was a strategic victory for President Assad's forces- but also a symbolic one as it was the first district rebels seized in Aleppo in 2012. | |
The government's aim seems to be to cut the rebel-held area in two at its narrowest point. | |
There is heavy fighting in the Sakhour district. If the rebels lose it, the army will have achieved this objective. | |
The fighting has set off a wave of civilians seeking refuge not only in other rebel areas, but also on the government side. | |
More than 400 residents fled the eastern districts of Haidaria and al-Shaar as the army advanced on Hanano on Saturday, the Observatory said. | |
They were received by the army and taken to areas under their control in the west of the city. | |
Al-Jazeera says others are moving out of the besieged neighbourhoods of Hulluk, Sheikh Fares and Sakhour. | |
Retaking all of Aleppo would be a major victory for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after five years of conflict. | |
Once Syria's commercial and industrial hub, Aleppo has been divided roughly in two since 2012, with the government controlling the west and rebels the east. | |
In the past year, Syrian troops have broken the deadlock with the help of Iranian-backed militias and Russian air strikes. | |
Russia says its air force is active in other parts of the country, but not operating over Aleppo. |