Its capture brings the Syrian government closer to its long-standing objective of encircling rebel-held areas of the northern city. Groups fighting under the banner of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) say however that they control the rebel-held part of the city. "Syrian regime forces with Russian firepower in recent weeks have intensified their efforts to isolate and encircle opposition forces in Aleppo," said the U.S. official. Syrian government forces took a step toward completely encircling rebel-held parts of Aleppo on Thursday, capturing ground overlooking the only road into the opposition half of the city and effectively putting those areas under siege. The Syrian Observatory estimates that between 250,000 and 300,000 people live in opposition-held parts of Aleppo.

Source: Thanhnien News July 08, 2016 02:26 UTC