This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/07/syrian-troops-in-control-of-aleppo-old-city-after-rebels-withdraw

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Syrian troops in control of Aleppo's Old City after rebels withdraw Syrian troops in control of Aleppo's Old City after rebels withdraw
(about 2 hours later)
Syrian government forces control all of Aleppo’s historic Old City after rebel fighters withdrew in the face of army advances overnight, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has said. Syrian government forces control all of Aleppo’s historic Old City after rebel fighters withdrew in the face of army advances overnight.
The army and allied forces hold more than 75% of east Aleppo, a rebel bastion since 2012, three weeks into their operation to capture all of the country’s second city.The army and allied forces hold more than 75% of east Aleppo, a rebel bastion since 2012, three weeks into their operation to capture all of the country’s second city.
The Observatory said rebels had withdrawn from the last parts of the Old City under their control overnight after the army seized the neighbouring districts of Bab al-Hadid and Aqyul. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said rebels had withdrawn from the last parts of the Old City under their control overnight after the army seized the neighbouring districts of Bab al-Hadid and Aqyul. “Rebels were forced to withdraw from the Old City neighbourhoods of Aleppo for fear of being besieged,” the UK-based monitor said.
“Rebels were forced to withdraw from the Old City neighbourhoods of Aleppo for fear of being besieged,” the UK-based monitor said. Rebel groups on Wednesday called for an immediate five-day truce and the evacuation of civilians to other opposition-held territory in the northern province. The initiative was approved by all factions in the city, a representative from one group told AFP.
The army has made steady gains since it began its latest push to recapture east Aleppo. It now controls all the areas east of the historic citadel, and parts of the Marjeh neighbourhood, the Observatory said. The initiative calls for an “immediate five-day humanitarian ceasefire” as well as the UN-supervised evacuation of people requiring urgent medical care. It also calls for “the evacuation of civilians who wish to leave besieged east Aleppo to the northern Aleppo province countryside”, where rebels still hold pockets of territory.
Overnight, the army carried out heavy shelling of the Al-Zabdiya neighbourhood and other territory still under rebel control in the south-east of the city, the Observatory said. It rules out the evacuation of civilians to neighbouring Idlib province, where many civilians and surrendering rebels have taken refuge after leaving territory recaptured by the government elsewhere in the country. “Idlib province is no longer a safe area because of Russian and regime bombardment,” it said.
It said at least 15 people, including a child, were killed in government fire on east Aleppo on Tuesday. Three children were among 11 people killed by rebel fire on government-held areas of the city. The initiative makes no mention of the fate of the rebels remaining in the city, who have said previously they will not evacuate. Instead, it calls for “negotiations on the future of the city” to begin after the “easing of the humanitarian situation in east Aleppo”.
At least 80,000 people have fled east Aleppo since the Syrian army operation began, the Observatory said. The figure included residents who have sought refuge in the government-held west, and a Kurdish-controlled enclave between the two sectors. The army has made steady gains since it began its latest push to recapture east Aleppo. It now controls all the areas east of the historic citadel, and parts of the Marjeh neighbourhood, the Observatory said. Overnight, the army carried out heavy shelling of the Zabdiya neighbourhood and other territory still under rebel control in the south-east of the city.
The Observatory said at least 15 people, including a child, had been killed by government fire in east Aleppo on Tuesday. Three children were among 11 people killed by rebel fire on government-held areas of the city.
At least 80,000 people have already fled east Aleppo, the Observatory said. The figure included residents who sought refuge in the government-held west, and a Kurdish-controlled enclave between the two sectors.
But it does not include others who have fled south to remaining rebel-held territory, Rami Abdel Rahman, the Observatory’s chief, said.But it does not include others who have fled south to remaining rebel-held territory, Rami Abdel Rahman, the Observatory’s chief, said.
Before the assault began, an estimated 250,000 people lived in east Aleppo, which was surrounded by government forces in mid-July, halting deliveries of basic goods. East Aleppo fell to rebels in 2012 and has been under government siege since mid-July, with international aid now exhausted and food supplies limited. More than 250,000 civilians were estimated to be in east Aleppo before the latest government offensive began in mid-November.