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Syrian army controls 95 pct of Aleppo, 100,000 civilians evacuated: Russian Defense Ministry

Xinhua, December 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Syrian army has taken complete control of over 95 percent of Aleppo's territory previously held by rebels, with over 100,000 civilians evacuated from the Syrian city, the Russian Defense Ministry said Monday.

According to the Russian Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides, the Syrian army has seized three more neighborhoods in the war-ravaged eastern Aleppo in the last 24 hours, as a result of which, the total territory held by rebel militants in the eastern part of the city is less than 10 square km.

Meanwhile, more than 100,000 civilians, including 40,484 children, have been evacuated from the city since the Syrian government's offensive began, the center said in a statement.

It added that 2,215 militants have laid down their weapons and up to 2,137 were granted amnesty.

Aleppo, once Syria's largest city and former commercial center, has been bitterly contested by the Syrian army and the rebels due to its strategic location.

Over recent months, Syrian government troops have made a major breakthrough in their latest efforts to clear the city of militants. Endi