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Syrian forces seize control of more than half of Aleppo's rebel districts | |
(about 17 hours later) | |
Syrian government forces have taken control of more than half of Aleppo’s rebel districts after fierce bombardments and ground advances forced tens of thousands to flee. | Syrian government forces have taken control of more than half of Aleppo’s rebel districts after fierce bombardments and ground advances forced tens of thousands to flee. |
The UN envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said on Saturday he anticipated a “terrible battle” for complete control of the city. | The UN envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said on Saturday he anticipated a “terrible battle” for complete control of the city. |
Jets and artillery pounded besieged eastern districts as Syrian troops and allied fighters from Iraq, Iran and Lebanon pushed further into the city, securing parts of Tariq al-Bab and the airport road to the east of Aleppo, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. | Jets and artillery pounded besieged eastern districts as Syrian troops and allied fighters from Iraq, Iran and Lebanon pushed further into the city, securing parts of Tariq al-Bab and the airport road to the east of Aleppo, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. |
Some of the areas taken by government forces had been held by opposition fighters since 2012, as forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad undermined the stalemate that kept Aleppo divided for four years. | Some of the areas taken by government forces had been held by opposition fighters since 2012, as forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad undermined the stalemate that kept Aleppo divided for four years. |
“The noose is tightening quickly,” Mohammed Abu Jaafar, a medical official in eastern Aleppo, told the Associated Press. “Our resources are also running low and beginning to disappear.” | “The noose is tightening quickly,” Mohammed Abu Jaafar, a medical official in eastern Aleppo, told the Associated Press. “Our resources are also running low and beginning to disappear.” |
Mistura said he feared the opposition would not be able to withstand the attacks for much longer, Reuters reported. | Mistura said he feared the opposition would not be able to withstand the attacks for much longer, Reuters reported. |
“The fact is that Aleppo is not going to stay that long,” he told a conference in Rome. “I was feeling it would be a terrible battle ending up by Christmas-New Year. I hope the battle will not take place, that there will be some type of formula.” | “The fact is that Aleppo is not going to stay that long,” he told a conference in Rome. “I was feeling it would be a terrible battle ending up by Christmas-New Year. I hope the battle will not take place, that there will be some type of formula.” |
Around a quarter of a million people had stayed on in besieged Aleppo, but more than one in 10 fled last week, the UN estimated. | Around a quarter of a million people had stayed on in besieged Aleppo, but more than one in 10 fled last week, the UN estimated. |
About 19,000 people went to Syrian government-controlled areas, around 10,000 to an enclave held by Kurdish troops, and 5,000 moved deeper into opposition-held areas. Nearly two-thirds of those displaced are children. | About 19,000 people went to Syrian government-controlled areas, around 10,000 to an enclave held by Kurdish troops, and 5,000 moved deeper into opposition-held areas. Nearly two-thirds of those displaced are children. |
Those left in the opposition-held areas of the city have little hope of relief as winter intensifies, food stocks decline and new arrivals cram into the homes and buildings that remain standing. | Those left in the opposition-held areas of the city have little hope of relief as winter intensifies, food stocks decline and new arrivals cram into the homes and buildings that remain standing. |
“I left everything, even my clothes, it is so bad, and so cold,” said Fatema, whose tweets about life under siege with her three children have built up a following of nearly 200,000 people. | “I left everything, even my clothes, it is so bad, and so cold,” said Fatema, whose tweets about life under siege with her three children have built up a following of nearly 200,000 people. |
This is my reading place where I wanted to start reading Harry Potter but it's bombed. I will never forget. - Bana pic.twitter.com/6fXX2Me8ZB | This is my reading place where I wanted to start reading Harry Potter but it's bombed. I will never forget. - Bana pic.twitter.com/6fXX2Me8ZB |
Their home was hit last week and they had to take shelter with friends. “Hello my friend, how are you. I am on the run now, I fear being killed. Please save us. Thank you,” Bana Alabed said in a short video shared by the Harry Potter author, JK Rowling. | Their home was hit last week and they had to take shelter with friends. “Hello my friend, how are you. I am on the run now, I fear being killed. Please save us. Thank you,” Bana Alabed said in a short video shared by the Harry Potter author, JK Rowling. |
The family fear they may have been targeted because their tweets have such a wide audience and, like many in the city, they believe it would be too dangerous to cross to areas under the control of a government known for harsh treatment of anyone it suspects of opposition. | The family fear they may have been targeted because their tweets have such a wide audience and, like many in the city, they believe it would be too dangerous to cross to areas under the control of a government known for harsh treatment of anyone it suspects of opposition. |
The Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said on Saturday that Moscow was ready for talks with the US about a complete withdrawal of rebels from Aleppo, but rebel groups have insisted they will fight to the death. | The Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said on Saturday that Moscow was ready for talks with the US about a complete withdrawal of rebels from Aleppo, but rebel groups have insisted they will fight to the death. |
“I asked the factions, they said: ‘We will not surrender’,” Zakaria Malahifji, the head of the political office of the Aleppo-based Fastaqim faction, told Reuters. “The military commanders in Aleppo said: ‘We will not leave the city’.” | “I asked the factions, they said: ‘We will not surrender’,” Zakaria Malahifji, the head of the political office of the Aleppo-based Fastaqim faction, told Reuters. “The military commanders in Aleppo said: ‘We will not leave the city’.” |