Syrian army captures more areas in eastern Aleppo

The Syrian army continued to advance in rebel-held areas in the northern city of Aleppo on Friday, amid reports that the rebels are threatening to kill civilians who leave toward government-controlled areas.

Government forces advanced Friday in the southern part of the rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo city, capturing al-Masaraniyeh area and the eastern parts of the Bab al-Nayrab neighborhood, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The fresh progress is part of a broad military campaign the army and allied fighters have recently unleash to end the rebel presence in Aleppo city.

The advance in the southern rim of eastern Aleppo comes a few days after the army fully controlled the northern part, capturing over 50 percent of the rebel-held areas there.

Meanwhile, civilians continued to flee eastern Aleppo toward government-controlled areas.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said over 30,000 people evacuated eastern Aleppo toward government areas in western Aleppo over the past few days.

In a statement, the ICRC said the civilians must be guaranteed protection and safe passage.

"We at the ICRC are ready to help, but it is up to those who are involved in the fighting to protect civilians," it added.

In the meantime, pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV cited reports close to the Syrian forces that the rebels in eastern Aleppo have received orders to execute civilians who want to leave eastern Aleppo.

The report said the orders were known from intercepted message of rebels by military forces.

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

The rebels captured eastern Aleppo in 2012, and the government forces recently imposed a siege on that area before unleashing a broad offensive for its recapture.

Humanitarian organizations sounded the alarm about the situation of 250,000 people living in eastern Aleppo, with the government promising to fix the situation of those relocated in government-controlled areas. Endit