Syria rebels 'preventing' civilians from leaving regime-besieged Aleppo
Syria rebels 'preventing' civilians from leaving regime-besieged Aleppo
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Only a few residents of Syria's Aleppo were able to leave encircled opposition-held districts through humanitarian corridors before rebels prevented them from fleeing, activists said on Friday.
Up to 300,000 civilians could be left in rebel-held, regime-besieged Aleppo [AFP]
Only a few residents of Syria's Aleppo were able to leave encircled opposition-held districts through humanitarian corridors before rebels prevented them from fleeing, activists said on Friday.
Russia, a key ally of President Bashar Assad, on Thursday announced the opening of aid passages for civilians and surrendering fighters seeking to exit the city's rebel-held eastern neighbourhoods.
Government aircraft bombed eastern areas of Aleppo overnight, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. At least 14 civilian casualties were killed, local activist Mohammad al-Halabi told The New Arab.
Entrances to the corridors were effectively shut in rebel areas inside the city Friday, the Observatory said.
The other end of the passages, in government-held territory, were open however, according to activists, which relies of a wide network of sources inside Syria for its information.
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Pro-government forces have surrounded Aleppo's eastern districts since July 17, sparking fears for an estimated 300,000 people who live there. |  |
Since they were established "around 12 people managed to use the Bustan al-Qasr corridor before rebel groups reinforced security measures and prevented families from approaching the corridors," Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said.
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Syria's opposition High Negotiations Committee on Thursday criticised the corridors, saying Russia and the government aimed to "alter Aleppo's demographics and ensure forced displacement".
Pro-government forces have surrounded Aleppo's eastern districts since July 17, sparking fears for an estimated 300,000 people who live there.
Rebel-held neighborhoods have been effectively besieged -- with food shortages and price hikes -- since pro-government forces completely cut off the opposition's main supply road into the city.
Analysts say that losing Aleppo would be a major blow for the armed opposition and could signal a turning point in the conflict, which began in 2011 with the brutal crackdown of anti-government protests.
Syria's five-year war has killed more than 280,000 people, more than 470,000 by unofficial estimates, and displaced millions.
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