Soldiers of pro-government militia rest in Aleppo, Syria, on Dec. 11, 2016. The Syrian army and allied fighters are now in control of 98 percent of the rebel-held areas in the northern city of Aleppo, the media arm of the Syrian military said Monday. (Xinhua/Yang Zhen)
DAMASCUS, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army and allied fighters are now in control of 98 percent of the rebel-held areas in the northern city of Aleppo, the media arm of the Syrian military said Monday.
This comes as Syrian forces continued to advance in eastern Aleppo on Monday, capturing the neighborhoods of Sheikh Saeed, Shahadien, Iskan, Karm Afandi, Karm Dada, Salhien, all the way to the al-Haj bridge, Bab al-Maqam, Fardos and Qalat Saharif in the southeastern part of Aleppo.
The report said the Syrian army is moving on toward the remaining rebel-held areas of Kalaseh, Bustan al-Qaser, Souk al-Hal and Sukari, amid a collapse in rebel morale.
Meanwhile, a military source told Xinhua that the rebels are now trapped in an area of five square km in southeastern Aleppo.
Pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV cited a senior military source as saying that the army will continue its battles until liberating the remaining neighborhoods in Aleppo.
Syrian government forces have been conducting a crushing offensive against the rebels in eastern Aleppo, which had been under rebel control since 2012.
President Bashar al-Assad also said that the decision for taking all of Aleppo has been taken, adding that the army's recapture of rebel-held areas in Aleppo will change the course of the battles in Syria.
Related:
Pro-Syria gov't fighters advance in key Aleppo neighborhood
ALEPPO, Syria, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- An elite pro-government forces advanced Sunday in a key rebel-held neighborhood in the country's northern city of Aleppo.
The Desert Falcon forces advanced on Sunday in some parts of the strategic Sheikh Saeed neighborhood southeast of Aleppo, where the rebels were amassing large numbers of fighters. Full story
Spotlight: Government army's dominance in Aleppo brings prospect for Syrian issue settlement
DAMASCUS, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian government forces have taken 93 percent of the rebel-held areas in the northern city of Aleppo, bringing prospect for settlement of the lingering Syrian issue, the country's national TV said Saturday evening.
The falling of the rebels in the key battleground marks a crucial juncture in the course of Syrian war, with expectations that the recapture would help to change the whole prospect of the prolonged crisis in the Middle East's war-torn country. Full story
Syrian army captures 93 percent of rebel-held areas in Aleppo
DAMASCUS, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian government forces have become in control of 93 percent of the rebel-held areas in the northern city of Aleppo, the country's national TV said Saturday evening.
The majority of the rebel-held areas in the eastern part of Aleppo have recently fallen to the army, which is fighting to wrest control over the few remaining neighborhoods. Full story
