Syrian army tightens its grip on Aleppo

Bombings continue as ground made in rebel-held areas

ALEPPO // Syrian warplanes, artillery and mortar rounds pounded areas in eastern Aleppo yesterday as government forces gained ground in the shrinking rebel-held enclave.

Government troops advanced in Tariq Al Bab and Al Khaterji districts and secured the road east of Aleppo, leading to the city’s international airport and a military airbase.

Syrian military spokesman in Aleppo, Brig Gen Samir Suleiman said the army had regained control of 45 to 50 per cent of east Aleppo, and accused the rebels of hiding among civilians.

The Syrian Civil Defence in eastern Aleppo said six people were killed in bombings of the central Al Shaar neighbourhood.

Residents reported intense shelling in Al Sukkari neighbourhood on the southern edge of eastern Aleppo, where many of the newly displaced have sought refuge.

In government-held Aleppo, rebel shelling killed five peo- ple, according to the state news agency Sana.

Russia’s Interfax news agency quoted a Syrian military official as saying that a ground attack aircraft was shot down near Aleppo, and its crew was killed.

After four years of holding nearly half of the divided city, rebel fighters have been increasingly squeezed into the centre of eastern Aleppo. Government and allied troops, including Lebanese, Iraqi and Iranian fighters, have concentrated their fight on the north- eastern part of the enclave, swiftly taking new districts since their offensive began last week. Another front on the southern outskirts of the city has been slower, as rebel fighters push back government advances there. The advances have caused massive displacement. The UN estimated that more than 31,000 had already fled their homes, either to government or Kurdish areas, or deeper into the besieged enclave. “The noose is tightening quickly,” said Mohammed Jaafar, a medical official in a rebel-held area. “Our resources are also running low and beginning to disappear.”