Syrian army captures nearly half of rebel-held territory in Aleppo city

Syrian government forces are now in control of nearly half of the rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo city in northern Syria, a military source told Xinhua on Monday.

Government forces and allied fighters have so far captured 20 out of 45 sq. km of rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo, the source said on condition of anonymity.

He added that all of the northern section of eastern Aleppo has come under government control, after the northern part of eastern Aleppo was isolated from its south.

As a result of a broad offensive launched recently, Syrian government forces have recaptured the neighborhoods of Sakhour, Sheikh Khuder, Sheikh Fares, Bustan al-Basha, Baibdien, Slaiman al-Halabi, Halak, Inzarat, Ayn Tal Jabal Badro, and Masaken Hanano in eastern Aleppo.

Thousands of civilians have fled to government-controlled areas in western Aleppo, following the advance of the Syrian army.

Meanwhile, Syrian national TV has aired several interviews with civilians who have reached government-controlled areas in western Aleppo, with people blaming rebels for the dire humanitarian situation there.

The interviewees accused rebels of previously preventing them from leaving Aleppo. They also spoke of hunger they have been suffering from over the past four months.

Government forces have intensified shelling on rebel positions in eastern Aleppo over the past 10 days to break their defense lines and prepare for a ground incursion.

The firepower has led to the destruction of rebel defenses, mainly the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, the Turkey-backed Ahrar al-Sham, and the Nour Addien Alzinki Movement.

The capture of Masaken Hanano, the largest rebel-held neighborhood in eastern Aleppo, and the Sakhour neighborhood, has enabled the Syrian army to isolate neighborhoods in northeastern Aleppo from the central and southern ones.

Military sources said the rebels in eastern Aleppo are in a state of confusion as a result of government military advances.

The Syrian army says it will press on with the operation until all rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo are recaptured. Endit