Aleppo civilians bear brunt of Syrian regime onslaught
Government forces backed by Iranian and Russian troops, as well as Hezbollah fighters from Lebanon, have entered Aleppo’s strategic Masaken Hanano district
Aleppo — Syrian government forces advanced quickly inside rebel-held Aleppo on Monday, as the UN raised the alarm for nearly 1-million people living under siege in the war-wracked country. UN aid chief Stephen O’Brien told the Security Council in New York, the US, on Monday 974,080 people were now living under siege in Syria, a steep increase from 486,700 six months ago in the growing offensive. The assessment follows mounting international concern over the fate of Aleppo, where 250,000 people are trapped in the rebel-held east of the city under a government siege. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime lost control of the eastern part of Syria’s second city to insurgents in 2012, and its recapture would be its biggest victory in the country’s brutal five-year conflict. Rebel forces have steadily lost ground since regime ally Russia intervened to bolster Assad’s government last year. They faced a new blow on Sunday when government forces backed by Iranian and Russian troops and f...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.