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| Aleppo battle: Raids on Syria city 'likely a war crime' UN says | Aleppo battle: Raids on Syria city 'likely a war crime' UN says |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The bombing of the last parts of Aleppo held by rebels is probably a war crime, the UN's human rights chief says. | The bombing of the last parts of Aleppo held by rebels is probably a war crime, the UN's human rights chief says. |
| A deal to evacuate rebel fighters and civilians from eastern Aleppo has stalled, with heavy shelling reported. | A deal to evacuate rebel fighters and civilians from eastern Aleppo has stalled, with heavy shelling reported. |
| Syrian activists say air strikes resumed over rebel-held territory, where at least 50,000 civilians remain. | Syrian activists say air strikes resumed over rebel-held territory, where at least 50,000 civilians remain. |
| The UN said raids by the Syrian government and its allies on an area "packed with civilians" most likely violates international law. | The UN said raids by the Syrian government and its allies on an area "packed with civilians" most likely violates international law. |
| The renewed violence came despite a ceasefire put in place less than a day earlier. | The renewed violence came despite a ceasefire put in place less than a day earlier. |
| Zeid Raad al-Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the Syrian government had "a clear responsibility to ensure its people are safe". | Zeid Raad al-Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the Syrian government had "a clear responsibility to ensure its people are safe". |
| In a statement, he said: "The way this deal was dangled in front of this battered and beleaguered population - causing them to hope they might indeed live to see another day - and then snatched away just half a day later is also outrageously cruel." | In a statement, he said: "The way this deal was dangled in front of this battered and beleaguered population - causing them to hope they might indeed live to see another day - and then snatched away just half a day later is also outrageously cruel." |
| Meanwhile, the BBC has learned that Western forces are using satellites and unmanned aircraft to gather evidence of possible war crimes in Aleppo and elsewhere in Syria. | Meanwhile, the BBC has learned that Western forces are using satellites and unmanned aircraft to gather evidence of possible war crimes in Aleppo and elsewhere in Syria. |
| The latest on the ground | The latest on the ground |
| Eastern Aleppo has been held by the rebels since 2012. But they have been squeezed into ever-smaller areas in recent months by a major government offensive, backed by Russian air power. | Eastern Aleppo has been held by the rebels since 2012. But they have been squeezed into ever-smaller areas in recent months by a major government offensive, backed by Russian air power. |
| In recent weeks, government troops have made sweeping gains. Russia's military said on Wednesday that rebels were confined to only 2.5 sq km of the city. | In recent weeks, government troops have made sweeping gains. Russia's military said on Wednesday that rebels were confined to only 2.5 sq km of the city. |
| Under the evacuation deal brokered by Russia and Turkey, civilians and rebels from eastern Aleppo were to be allowed to go to rebel-held areas in northern Syria. | Under the evacuation deal brokered by Russia and Turkey, civilians and rebels from eastern Aleppo were to be allowed to go to rebel-held areas in northern Syria. |
| Fighting ceased late on Tuesday, but evacuations scheduled for 05:00 (03:00 GMT) on Wednesday did not go ahead, and buses left empty. | Fighting ceased late on Tuesday, but evacuations scheduled for 05:00 (03:00 GMT) on Wednesday did not go ahead, and buses left empty. |
| Fresh shelling was reported several hours later. | Fresh shelling was reported several hours later. |
| The breakdown of the deal is being attributed to demands from the government side. | The breakdown of the deal is being attributed to demands from the government side. |
| It is said to be seeking the evacuation of injured fighters and civilians from nearby towns encircled by opposition forces. | It is said to be seeking the evacuation of injured fighters and civilians from nearby towns encircled by opposition forces. |
| "The clashes are violent and bombardment is very heavy... it seems as though everything [the ceasefire] is finished," Rami Abdulrahman, director of the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) monitoring group, said. | "The clashes are violent and bombardment is very heavy... it seems as though everything [the ceasefire] is finished," Rami Abdulrahman, director of the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) monitoring group, said. |
| The SOHR also said aircraft had resumed bombing in rebel-held areas. | The SOHR also said aircraft had resumed bombing in rebel-held areas. |
| Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Syria's government had been happy to allow safe passage to rebel fighters, but that the rebels had refused a ceasefire. | Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Syria's government had been happy to allow safe passage to rebel fighters, but that the rebels had refused a ceasefire. |
| Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Syrian forces of breaking the deal and called the situation in Aleppo "very fragile". He said civilians had to be allowed to leave. | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Syrian forces of breaking the deal and called the situation in Aleppo "very fragile". He said civilians had to be allowed to leave. |
| The residents still under siege | The residents still under siege |
| Besieged residents have faced weeks of bombardment and chronic food and fuel shortages. Medical facilities in the city have largely been reduced to rubble. | Besieged residents have faced weeks of bombardment and chronic food and fuel shortages. Medical facilities in the city have largely been reduced to rubble. |
| Some information continues to emerge from besieged areas: | Some information continues to emerge from besieged areas: |
| Residents say they fear reprisals from government forces or being forcibly conscripted. There have also been reports of atrocities. | Residents say they fear reprisals from government forces or being forcibly conscripted. There have also been reports of atrocities. |
| On Tuesday the UN said it had received reliable evidence of summary executions taking place, saying that in four areas 82 civilians were killed by pro-government forces. It said that many more may have died. | On Tuesday the UN said it had received reliable evidence of summary executions taking place, saying that in four areas 82 civilians were killed by pro-government forces. It said that many more may have died. |
| Syria's government and Russia said the allegations were untrue. | Syria's government and Russia said the allegations were untrue. |
| How many people are in eastern Aleppo? | How many people are in eastern Aleppo? |
| It is not clear exactly how many people remain in the besieged areas. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura put the figure at about 50,000. | It is not clear exactly how many people remain in the besieged areas. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura put the figure at about 50,000. |
| He said there were approximately 1,500 rebel fighters, about 30% of whom were from the jihadist group formerly known as the al-Nusra Front. | He said there were approximately 1,500 rebel fighters, about 30% of whom were from the jihadist group formerly known as the al-Nusra Front. |
| Other local sources say there could be as many as 100,000 people, many of them arriving from areas recently taken by the government. | Other local sources say there could be as many as 100,000 people, many of them arriving from areas recently taken by the government. |