Syrian government forces have taken control of more than half of Aleppo’s rebel districts after fierce bombardments and ground advances forced tens of thousands to flee. The UN envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said on Saturday he anticipated a “terrible battle” for complete control of the city. Some of the areas taken by government forces had been held by opposition fighters since 2012, as forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad undermined the stalemate that kept Aleppo divided for four years. “The noose is tightening quickly,” Mohammed Abu Jaafar, a medical official in eastern Aleppo told the Associated Press. About 19,000 people went to Syrian government-controlled areas, around 10,000 to an enclave held by Kurdish troops, and 5,000 moved deeper into opposition-held areas.

Source: The Guardian December 03, 2016 15:22 UTC