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| Aleppo evacuations 'suspended' after blasts heard near rebel area, Syrian official says | Aleppo evacuations 'suspended' after blasts heard near rebel area, Syrian official says |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The evacuation of rebels and civilians from rebel-held east Aleppo has been jeapordised following reports of ceasefire violations and a suspension on the convoys of buses leaving the city. | The evacuation of rebels and civilians from rebel-held east Aleppo has been jeapordised following reports of ceasefire violations and a suspension on the convoys of buses leaving the city. |
| Four blasts occurred at Rasmouseh, the area from which convoys have been departing, a source on the ground said on Friday morning. Syrian state TV reported rebel gunfire, which pro-opposition sources disputed, claiming shots had been fired by pro-government Shia miliitas. | Four blasts occurred at Rasmouseh, the area from which convoys have been departing, a source on the ground said on Friday morning. Syrian state TV reported rebel gunfire, which pro-opposition sources disputed, claiming shots had been fired by pro-government Shia miliitas. |
| The evacuations to neighbouring rebel-held Idlib province have been suspended, a Syrian miltary official said. Syrian authorities later clarified that the suspensions were "temporary" rather than "over," but it is unclear what will happen now that rebel groups have said they are on "high alert." | |
| "Everyone is manning positions and the fronts. Readiness is at the highest level," the head of the Fastaqim rebel group said, claiming pro-government forces had abducted civilians trying to leave Aleppo and deployed heavy weaponry on the road. | |
| World Heath Organisation (WHO) spokesperson Elizabeth Hoff in government-held west Aleppo said that all WHO and Syrian Arab Red Crescent workers have been told to leave the city, taking buses and ambulances with them, "without explanation". | World Heath Organisation (WHO) spokesperson Elizabeth Hoff in government-held west Aleppo said that all WHO and Syrian Arab Red Crescent workers have been told to leave the city, taking buses and ambulances with them, "without explanation". |
| A media channel run by Hezbollah, Damascus' ally, said that Sunni Islamist groups had blocked the agreed mirror evacuations of Shia fighters from the loyalist villlages of Kefraya and Foua in Idlib, contributing to the break down of the truce. | A media channel run by Hezbollah, Damascus' ally, said that Sunni Islamist groups had blocked the agreed mirror evacuations of Shia fighters from the loyalist villlages of Kefraya and Foua in Idlib, contributing to the break down of the truce. |
| A previous ceasefire which went into effect on Tuesday evening broke down after 12 hours, after which heavy fighting and shelling in the wartorn city resumed. | A previous ceasefire which went into effect on Tuesday evening broke down after 12 hours, after which heavy fighting and shelling in the wartorn city resumed. |
| It is unclear how many people have managed to leave. Syrian state TV and Russian sources said 8,000 people were evacuated on Thursday, but the International Red Cross put the figure closer to 4,000. There could be up to 50,000 still trapped in the last slivers of rebel territory, the UN says. | It is unclear how many people have managed to leave. Syrian state TV and Russian sources said 8,000 people were evacuated on Thursday, but the International Red Cross put the figure closer to 4,000. There could be up to 50,000 still trapped in the last slivers of rebel territory, the UN says. |
| Before reports of the apparent breakdown emerged, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced during a state visit to Japan that new peace talks between the Syrian government and Sunni opposition would occur in the Kazakh capital of Astana. | Before reports of the apparent breakdown emerged, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced during a state visit to Japan that new peace talks between the Syrian government and Sunni opposition would occur in the Kazakh capital of Astana. |