This article is from the source 'independent' 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 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/aleppo-conflict-latest-assad-regime-win-rebels-withdraw-a7469731.html
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Syria: 'Battle for Aleppo is over' as rebels withdraw, monitor claims | Syria: 'Battle for Aleppo is over' as rebels withdraw, monitor claims |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The battle for the Syrian city of Aleppo has reportedly ended after rebels withdrew from six remaining districts in the opposition-held east of the city. | The battle for the Syrian city of Aleppo has reportedly ended after rebels withdrew from six remaining districts in the opposition-held east of the city. |
| Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the UK-based monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said: “It is just a matter of a small period of time until it's a total collapse." | Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the UK-based monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said: “It is just a matter of a small period of time until it's a total collapse." |
| The Syrian military claimed to have taken control of 98 per cent of rebel-held east Aleppo early on Monday morning after seizing the large industrial district of Sheikh Saeed. | The Syrian military claimed to have taken control of 98 per cent of rebel-held east Aleppo early on Monday morning after seizing the large industrial district of Sheikh Saeed. |
| They [rebels] don't have much time. They either have to surrender or die," Lieutenant General Zaid al-Saleh, head of the government's Aleppo security committee, told reporters, adding that he expected the battle to end quickly. | They [rebels] don't have much time. They either have to surrender or die," Lieutenant General Zaid al-Saleh, head of the government's Aleppo security committee, told reporters, adding that he expected the battle to end quickly. |
| Rebel fighters are now confined to tiny pockets in the southeast of the city after withdrawing from the east side of the Aleppo river following the loss of Sheikh Saeed. “The situation is extremely difficult today,” said Zakaria Malahifji of the Fastaqim rebel group. | |
| Several last-minute UN, US and Russian backed attempts to broker a humanitarian ceasefire in the decimated city failed. | Several last-minute UN, US and Russian backed attempts to broker a humanitarian ceasefire in the decimated city failed. |
| The approximately 8,000 rebels - among them al-Qaeda affiliated fighters - and 250,000 civilians of the area have been cut off from reinforcements, aid and food supplies since August. | The approximately 8,000 rebels - among them al-Qaeda affiliated fighters - and 250,000 civilians of the area have been cut off from reinforcements, aid and food supplies since August. |
| An intense Russian-backed bombing campaign since September which has killed hundreds of people and destroyed medical infrastructure had bought residents in the rebel enclave to their knees. | An intense Russian-backed bombing campaign since September which has killed hundreds of people and destroyed medical infrastructure had bought residents in the rebel enclave to their knees. |
| Thousands of people have fled the siege barriacades since the aerial attack intensified two weeks ago. Approximately 10,000 people are thought to have gone to regime or Kurdish held territory in the last 24 hours, and the exact number of people left in the area is unknown. | Thousands of people have fled the siege barriacades since the aerial attack intensified two weeks ago. Approximately 10,000 people are thought to have gone to regime or Kurdish held territory in the last 24 hours, and the exact number of people left in the area is unknown. |
| “Families got together waiting death together. This is what's happening,” one activist wrote in a Whatsapp message to journalists on Monday. | “Families got together waiting death together. This is what's happening,” one activist wrote in a Whatsapp message to journalists on Monday. |
| The Independent’s attempts to contact other sources in east Aleppo went unanswered. | The Independent’s attempts to contact other sources in east Aleppo went unanswered. |
| President Bashar al-Assad is now close to retaking the entire of Aleppo, which has been contested since 2012, which would be a major victory for the government in the almost six-year-long conflict, removing the last of US-backed rebel groups from Syria's urban centres. | President Bashar al-Assad is now close to retaking the entire of Aleppo, which has been contested since 2012, which would be a major victory for the government in the almost six-year-long conflict, removing the last of US-backed rebel groups from Syria's urban centres. |
| Yet the complex war - which according to the UN has killed more than 400,000 people and left half the country displaced from their homes - is far from over. | Yet the complex war - which according to the UN has killed more than 400,000 people and left half the country displaced from their homes - is far from over. |
| Mr Assad still faces Sunni opposition in the north and south of Syria, and Isis, despite military setbacks and heavy US-led coaliton and Russian bombing, managed to retake the ancient city of Palmyra over the weekend. | Mr Assad still faces Sunni opposition in the north and south of Syria, and Isis, despite military setbacks and heavy US-led coaliton and Russian bombing, managed to retake the ancient city of Palmyra over the weekend. |