Syrian army restores main water supply station in Aleppo

Syrian army captured on Monday Slaiman al-Halabi water station, the main station for feeding the northern city of Aleppo with drinking water, state news agency SANA reported.

Maintenance workers have already started repairing the station in eastern Aleppo and it will become operational as soon as possible, according to the report.

The station was under rebels' control, and they have repeatedly cut off the water from the government-controlled parts west of Aleppo, before it was damaged by the battles.

This comes as the Syrian army and allied fighters continued to advance Monday in rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo, as part of a major military campaign that has resulted in capturing nearly half of the rebel controlled areas in the city.

SANA said the Syrian forces recaptured the housing units of the Scientific Research area as well as the Sakan al-Shababi residential neighborhood in eastern Aleppo on Monday.

Meanwhile, an audio recording of one of the rebel commanders in Aleppo went online Monday, in which the unnamed man was accusing other commanders of abandoning their positions in eastern Aleppo.

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

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.

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