Spotlight: Joint Syrian-Russian airstrikes kill 40 rebels in Aleppo

A joint Syrian-Russian airstrike killed 40 rebels in the northern province of Aleppo Thursday, a military source told Xinhua.

The airstrikes as well as artillery shelling targeted a position of the rebels near the town of Khan Touman in the southern countryside of Aleppo, as the rebels were bracing to attack the Syrian military positions near that area, said the source on condition of anonymity.

The military forces received information about an imminent rebel attack in that area, the forth to be planned against the Syrian army, the source added.

Ahead of the airstrikes, rebels announced the launch of phase four of their attack to break the recently-imposed siege by the Syrian army on rebel-held areas in the eastern part of Aleppo city.

On Tuesday, the state news agency SANA said Syrian warplanes carried out 100 airstrikes against rebel positions in southern Aleppo, bringing to a halt the third phase of the rebel attack.

Late last month, the Syrian army stormed the Bani Zaid area, a main rebel stronghold in the eastern part of Aleppo.

The progress came days after the army severed the last rebel supply route connecting rebel-held areas in the northern countryside of Aleppo, with rebel-controlled parts in the eastern part of the city.

Severing the Castello road has dealt a strong blow to the rebels inside Aleppo.

With the progress made, the Syrian army has fully besieged eastern Aleppo, urging the rebels to surrender themselves and the civilians to cooperate.

Moreover, President Bashar al-Assad announced an amnesty for the rebels who surrender themselves and their weapons to the authorities.

The Syrian authorities in cooperation with the Russians also opened three safe passages for civilians wishing to leave eastern Aleppo. They also opened a fourth one for the rebels who would want to surrender themselves.

On Tuesday, state news agency SANA said dozens of families evacuated eastern districts in Aleppo, the second batch to leave the city since the government offered the safe passages.

SANA also said rebel fighters surrendered themselves to the authorities. Video clips of rebels surrendering were aired on several Syrian TVs.

With the Syrian army making all this progress in Aleppo, the rebels, including jihadi ones, unleashed several attacks over the past week to try to break the government-imposed siege.

However, all of their efforts have been rendered flat so far, as the government siege on rebel-held areas is still in place.

Aleppo, Syria's largest province and once a thriving economic metropolis, has witnessed intensified violent battles lately as the Syrian army advances against the rebels in the north. Endit