Syrian Rebels Suffer A Major Blow As Assad Forces Take Full Control Of Aleppo's Old City

The army loyal to Syrian President Bashar-Al Assad has reportedly taken full control of Aleppo's old city. The government troops, backed by Russian firepower had entered the city  on Tuesday, a monitoring group said.

Reuters

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the army advance on Tuesday and overnight, which was supported by heavy air strikes and shelling, caused insurgents to withdraw from the historic Old City, including from the area around the historic Umayyad Mosque.

Russian state media, RT reported that up to 85 per cent of the area, previously controlled by rebels, has now been "liberated".

Reuters

According to Syrian state news agency Sana, the Syrian army inflicted “heavy losses” upon militants in five neighborhoods and forced many to flee. The army also reportedly prevented a planned car bomb attack on a military post, which allegedly had been intended to boost the “deteriorating morale of the terrorists.”

Aleppo, once the commercial hub of Syria has been split between the Syrian government and rebel and militant factions since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011. Since operations to liberate the eastern districts of Aleppo in mid-November began, the Syrian army has made successful advances and now controls 65 per cent of the city, the military said.

AFP

The latest advance of the government troops is expected to further worsen the already grave human rights situation in the city. Rights groups including the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights fear that this could follow another genocide of civilians in the battle ridden city which is already in shambles.

Russia and China had on Tuesday vetoed a UN resolution calling for a 7-day humanitarian ceasefire in the rebel-held areas to allow much needed aid in. Moscow, while asking the rebels to surrender had warned them of consequences if they don't surrender and continued to fight.

So far thousands of people, most of them civilians have been killed in the city torn apart. According to the UN estimate, there are around 200,000 people still stuck in Aleppo of which more than 10,000 are in the frontlines of the rebel held areas.