Syrian Government forces and allied militias captured Aleppo’s centrally located al-Shaar neighbourhood from rebels on Wednesday, securing nearly three quarters of the besieged enclave less than two weeks after launching a ground offensive, according to the Syrian military.
The Syrian Government and its ally Russia meanwhile rejected a cease-fire for the war-torn city, keeping up the military offensive amid rebel retreats and massive displacement.
Rebels withdrew from al-Shaar under heavy bombardment by pro-government forces to the Marjeh and Maadi neighborhoods, local media activist Mahmoud Raslan told The Associated Press. Several gunmen were killed.
“Morale has hit rock bottom,” he said from inside the city’s remaining rebel-held enclave.
The SANA state news agency said the Government captured the entire neighborhood as well as the neighborhoods of al-Qatarji and Karm al-Dada. A map provided by the Syria army showed a quickly shrinking opposition enclave, a pointed leaf-shaped territory in the center, abutting already government-controlled Aleppo districts.
The Army media said the new gains bring the area controlled by the government in eastern Aleppo to about 73 percent of its original size, which is estimated to be about 45 square kilometres. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group also reported the gains.
Al-Shaar was home to at least four hospitals available to residents trapped by the government’s siege of the eastern part of the city.