The city of Aleppo and its surrounding environs have become one of the main theaters of the Syrian war. Syrian state media said 12 civilians were killed by rebel fire and eight others hospitalized with breathing difficulties when rebels targeted several government-controlled neighborhoods with poison gas. Earlier this week, the Russian and Syrian militaries promised a pause in fighting and to open humanitarian corridors out of eastern Aleppo. Its presence suggests that Russia may be intending to escalate its assault on rebel-held parts of the northern Syrian city. The UN estimates 275,000 people, the vast majority civilians, are trapped inside rebel-held eastern Aleppo with dwindling food and supplies.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer November 03, 2016 18:41 UTC