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Aleppo battle: Hopes rise for evacuation of rebel-held areas Aleppo battle: Hopes rise for evacuation of rebel-held areas
(35 minutes later)
Hopes have risen that a planned evacuation of rebel-held parts of the Syrian city of Aleppo will begin soon, after an earlier deal collapsed. Buses are again poised to start evacuations from a rebel-held enclave in the Syrian city of Aleppo under a renewed but fragile deal.
Rebel sources said a new truce had been in effect from 03:00GMT and evacuations would take place on Thursday. Fighters and civilians had been due to leave on Wednesday, but a ceasefire collapsed. Rebels say a new truce came into effect on Thursday morning.
Russia's defence ministry and sources from Syria's army and the Hezbollah group said preparations were under way. One convoy of ambulances tried to leave but was shot at, rebel sources said.
One convoy of ambulances did try to leave but was shot at and had to turn back, rebel sources said. Government forces took nearly all remaining rebel-held parts of Aleppo this week after a four-year battle.
Rebel fighters and civilians had been due to leave the city early on Wednesday, but a ceasefire collapsed.
Latest updates from AleppoLatest updates from Aleppo
Syrian state TV said "4,000 rebels and their families would be evacuated from eastern districts on Thursday", adding that "all the procedures for their evacuation are ready".Syrian state TV said "4,000 rebels and their families would be evacuated from eastern districts on Thursday", adding that "all the procedures for their evacuation are ready".
A media unit run by Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia Muslim movement backing the Syrian government, said there had been "big complications" but that "intensive contacts between the responsible parties... led to re-consolidating a ceasefire to exit armed fighters from eastern districts in the next few hours".A media unit run by Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia Muslim movement backing the Syrian government, said there had been "big complications" but that "intensive contacts between the responsible parties... led to re-consolidating a ceasefire to exit armed fighters from eastern districts in the next few hours".
Soldiers from Russia - Syria's ally - would lead the rebels out, escorting them along a corridor towards Idlib city on buses and ambulances, with surveillance drones monitoring the situation, a statement from the Russian Centre for the Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria, part of Russia's ministry of defence, said.Soldiers from Russia - Syria's ally - would lead the rebels out, escorting them along a corridor towards Idlib city on buses and ambulances, with surveillance drones monitoring the situation, a statement from the Russian Centre for the Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria, part of Russia's ministry of defence, said.
The buses will reportedly leave Aleppo on the road through the government-controlled south-western district of Ramousseh to the rebel-held town of Khan Touman, about 8km (5 miles) away.The buses will reportedly leave Aleppo on the road through the government-controlled south-western district of Ramousseh to the rebel-held town of Khan Touman, about 8km (5 miles) away.
The statement also said that Syrian authorities had guaranteed the safety of all members of the armed groups who decided to leave Aleppo.The statement also said that Syrian authorities had guaranteed the safety of all members of the armed groups who decided to leave Aleppo.
The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Moscow says that the phrasing "on the orders of President Putin" in the statement is significant, apparently underlining the country's commitment to the deal.The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Moscow says that the phrasing "on the orders of President Putin" in the statement is significant, apparently underlining the country's commitment to the deal.
The Red Cross and Syrian Arab Red Crescent confirmed they would be involved in the operation to evacuate wounded but that it had not yet started. The Red Cross and Syrian Arab Red Crescent confirmed they would be involved in the operation to evacuate wounded but had not yet started.
Ismail al-Abdullah, a volunteer for the White Helmets civil defence group, told the BBC that buses had now entered the area in which he was working and that he hoped the evacuation would now take place.Ismail al-Abdullah, a volunteer for the White Helmets civil defence group, told the BBC that buses had now entered the area in which he was working and that he hoped the evacuation would now take place.
But the White Helmets tweeted that one senior volunteer had been shot and injured by a sniper while clearing an evacuation route for ambulances. In a separate tweet, the group said it was suspending its evacuation operation.But the White Helmets tweeted that one senior volunteer had been shot and injured by a sniper while clearing an evacuation route for ambulances. In a separate tweet, the group said it was suspending its evacuation operation.
An ambulance service official in eastern Aleppo said one convoy of ambulances did leave but had been shot at, with three people injured. An opposition source told the BBC the convoy had headed back to eastern Aleppo.An ambulance service official in eastern Aleppo said one convoy of ambulances did leave but had been shot at, with three people injured. An opposition source told the BBC the convoy had headed back to eastern Aleppo.
BBC Arabic's Asaf Aboud, in Aleppo, says there was some shelling by rebels and air strikes by government forces overnight.BBC Arabic's Asaf Aboud, in Aleppo, says there was some shelling by rebels and air strikes by government forces overnight.
The new deal should allow the simultaneous evacuation of two villages - Foah and Kefraya - being besieged by rebels in north-western Syria.The new deal should allow the simultaneous evacuation of two villages - Foah and Kefraya - being besieged by rebels in north-western Syria.
Syria's government and its ally Iran had insisted the evacuation from eastern Aleppo could happen only when those villages were evacuated.Syria's government and its ally Iran had insisted the evacuation from eastern Aleppo could happen only when those villages were evacuated.
On Wednesday morning, buses and ambulances had been brought to evacuate rebel fighters and their families - only to be turned away shortly afterwards.On Wednesday morning, buses and ambulances had been brought to evacuate rebel fighters and their families - only to be turned away shortly afterwards.
Hours after the first agreement - brokered mainly by Russia and Turkey - collapsed, air strikes resumed over rebel-held territory, where up to 50,000 civilians remain.Hours after the first agreement - brokered mainly by Russia and Turkey - collapsed, air strikes resumed over rebel-held territory, where up to 50,000 civilians remain.
It is not clear how many rebel fighters remain in the besieged areas. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said there were approximately 1,500, about 30% of whom were from the jihadist group formerly known as the al-Nusra Front.It is not clear how many rebel fighters remain in the besieged areas. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said there were approximately 1,500, about 30% of whom were from the jihadist group formerly known as the al-Nusra Front.
The UN said raids by the Syrian government and its allies on an area "packed with civilians" most probably violated international law.The UN said raids by the Syrian government and its allies on an area "packed with civilians" most probably violated international law.
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 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.
Most politically sensitive deal - BBC's Lyse Doucet in BeirutMost politically sensitive deal - BBC's Lyse Doucet in Beirut
Many of Syria's prolonged battles and punishing sieges have ended with a negotiated pullout of rebel fighters.Many of Syria's prolonged battles and punishing sieges have ended with a negotiated pullout of rebel fighters.
The day of departure is often marked by delays and new demands. Aleppo is no different. But this is the most politically sensitive deal of all.The day of departure is often marked by delays and new demands. Aleppo is no different. But this is the most politically sensitive deal of all.
The first deal appeared to upset Iran as well as the Syrian government - they felt they did not have enough of a say.The first deal appeared to upset Iran as well as the Syrian government - they felt they did not have enough of a say.
Both insisted, as they have done for aid convoys and evacuations elsewhere, that there must be a simultaneous mission for injured fighters and civilians in the Shia villages of Foah and Kefraya. There have been arguments over other details, too.Both insisted, as they have done for aid convoys and evacuations elsewhere, that there must be a simultaneous mission for injured fighters and civilians in the Shia villages of Foah and Kefraya. There have been arguments over other details, too.
Only when buses are boarded, and ambulances pull away, can it be said with any certainty that this battle is drawing to a close.Only when buses are boarded, and ambulances pull away, can it be said with any certainty that this battle is drawing to a close.
Aleppo's besieged residents have faced weeks of bombardment and chronic food and fuel shortages.Aleppo's besieged residents have faced weeks of bombardment and chronic food and fuel shortages.
Medical facilities in the city have largely been reduced to rubble, as rebels have been squeezed into ever-smaller areas by a major government offensive, backed by Russian air power.Medical facilities in the city have largely been reduced to rubble, as rebels have been squeezed into ever-smaller areas by a major government offensive, backed by Russian air power.
Meanwhile, demonstrations in solidarity with the people of Aleppo have taken place in cities across the world, including Hamburg in Germany, Sarajevo in Bosnia and Rabat in Morocco.Meanwhile, demonstrations in solidarity with the people of Aleppo have taken place in cities across the world, including Hamburg in Germany, Sarajevo in Bosnia and Rabat in Morocco.
The lights of the Eiffel Tower were also dimmed. Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo said she hoped the gesture would highlight the need for "urgent action" to help the people of Aleppo.The lights of the Eiffel Tower were also dimmed. Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo said she hoped the gesture would highlight the need for "urgent action" to help the people of Aleppo.