Syrian government forces and their allies have taken control of nearly half of the rebel-held areas of Aleppo, according to statements released in Syria and Russia. The Syrian army's media arm said troops now control 20 square kilometres (nearly eight square miles) of the total 45 square kilometres of east Aleppo.
A member of Syrian pro-government forces stands on top of a building overlooking Aleppo in the city's Bustan al-Basha neighbourhood on 28 November 2016, during their assault to retake the entire city from rebel fightersGeorge Ourfalian/AFPA view of Aleppo taken from the top of a building in the city's Bustan al-Basha neighbourhood on 28 November 2016George Ourfalian/AFP
Syrian state TV said the army and its allies have seized the the eastern Aleppo district of al-Sakhour. Rebels denied the claims, but the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that government forces have seized the strategic district, meaning the rebels are now left boxed in mostly in central and southeastern Aleppo, encircled by government territory on all sides.
Destruction is seen in Aleppo's Bustan al-Basha neighbourhood on 28 November 2016George Ourfalian/AFPSmoke billows in Aleppo's Bustan al-Basha neighbourhood on 28 November 2016, during Syrian pro-government forces assault on rebel positionsGeorge Ourfalian/AFPSyrian pro-government forces walk past destroyed buildings in the Baadeen district in eastern Aleppo on 28 November 2016George Ourfalian/AFPA missile hangs on a parachute while falling over the rebel-held besieged al-Qaterji neighbourhood of Aleppo on 28 November 2016Abdalrhman Ismail/ReutersA man inspects an unexploded missile in the rebel-held besieged al-Qaterji neighbourhood of Aleppo on 28 November 2016Abdalrhman Ismail/Reuters
Capturing eastern Aleppo would be the biggest victory for President Bashar al-Assad since the start of the uprising against him in 2011, and would mean the government would be in control of the country's four largest cities as well as the coastal region. It would be seen as a victory for his allies, Russia and Iran, which have outmanoeuvred the West and Assad's regional enemies through direct military intervention.
With military backing from the Russian air force, Iran, and Lebanon's Hezbollah, Assad has gradually closed in on rebel-held eastern Aleppo this year, first cutting off the most direct route to nearby Turkey before encircling it from the west and then beginning a fierce assault in September.
Rebels say their foreign patrons including the United States have abandoned them to their fate in Aleppo. While some of the rebels in Aleppo received support from states such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the US during the war, they say their foreign backers have failed them as Assad and his allies unleashed enormous firepower.
Syrian pro-government forces flash the V-sign in Aleppo's 1070 district on 8 November 2016, after seizing it from rebel fightersGeorge Ourfalian/AFPA member of the Syrian pro-government forces walks past heavily damaged buildings in Aleppo's 1070 district on 8 November 2016, after Assad's troops seized it from rebel fightersGeorge Ourfalian/AFPA pro-government forces' armoured vehicle is pictured parked on a main road in western Aleppo's Minyan district on 10 November 2016George Ourfalian/AFPSyrian pro-government forces walk around in Aleppo's western Minyan district on 10 November 2016, after capturing it from rebelsGeorge Ourfalian/AFPSyrian pro-government forces walk around in Minyan, west of Aleppo, after they retook the area from rebel fightersGeorge Ourfalian/AFPA member of Syrian pro-government forces walks around in the west Aleppo district of Dahiyet al-Assad, after they retook the area from rebel fighters on 12 November 2016George Ourfalian/AFPMen salvage belongings from their damaged shops on 17 November 2016 at a site hit by air strikes in the rebel held al-Shaar neighbourhood of AleppoAbdalrhman Ismail/Reuters
Backed by allied militiamen, the army made major advances into eastern Aleppo from the northeast in recent days. Rebel defences swiftly collapsed as government forces pushed into the Hanano district on Saturday (26 November), the first time they have pushed this far into eastern Aleppo since 2012.
The Kurdish YPG militia which controls the Sheikh Maqsoud district of Aleppo moved into at least two of the areas left by rebel forces. Some rebels accused the YPG of conspiring with the government in its advance – a charge made against the Aleppo-based Kurds before and one they have previously denied. The YPG, an ally of the US in the war against Islamic State, has been on the opposite side in Aleppo.
Syrian pro-government forces walk past damaged houses as they approach the Baeedin district in eastern Aleppo, near Masaken Hanano, which was still under rebel-control on 23 November 2016George Ourfalian/AFPHeavily damaged buildings are seen after air strikes in the rebel-held al-Qaterji neighbourhood of Aleppo on 23 November 2016Abdalrhman Ismail/ReutersSyrian civil defence volunteers, known as the White Helmets, rescue a boy from the rubble following a reported barrel bomb attack on the Bab al-Nairab neighbourhood of Aleppo on 24 November 2016George Ourfalian/AFPA medic carries the body of a boy retrieved from the rubble following a reported barrel bomb attack on the Bab al-Nairab neighbourhood of AleppoAmeer Alhabi/AFPA man walks past a damaged site in the rebel-held besieged Qadi Askar neighbourhood of Aleppo on 24 November 2016Abdalrhman Ismail/ReutersSmoke rises from a damaged building after a strike on the rebel-held besieged al-Shaar neighbourhood of Aleppo on 26 November 2016Abdalrhman Ismail/ReutersA cloud of dust from a strike on the rebel-held besieged al-Shaar neighbourhood of Aleppo forms a smoke ring in the airAbdalrhman Ismail/ReutersSmoke billows during fighting as Syrian pro-government forces walk on a street in the Masaken Hanano district in eastern Aleppo on 27 November 2016, a day after retaking it from rebel fightersGeorge Ourfalian/AFPDamaged buildings are pictured in Hanano housing district after government forces took control of the area, in this handout picture provided by SANA on 27 November 2016George Ourfalian/AFPA damaged mosque is pictured in Hanano housing district after government forces took control of the area on 27 November 2016SANA/ReutersA Syrian pro-government forces' vehicle drives past damaged buildings in the Masaken Hanano district in eastern Aleppo on 27 November 2016George Ourfalian/AFP
Medical and food supplies have been running short in recent weeks as Syrian warplanes pounded the besieged enclave, rendering all remaining functioning hospitals out of service.
The fighting has forced thousands of residents of eastern Aleppo to flee. Some have gone to the Kurdish-held Sheikh Maqsoud district, others have gone over to government territory, and others have moved deeper into remaining rebel-held areas. Mohammad Sandeh, a member of the opposition city council of Aleppo, told Reuters: "They are going towards the areas that are somewhat further (from the front lines). There's fear that the regime will advance more."
Syrian families carry their belongings rubble of damaged building, as they flee clashes in the Tariq al-Bab and al-Sakhour neighbourhoods of eastern Aleppo on 28 November 2016George Ourfalian/AFPFamilies from various eastern Aleppo districts are evacuated by bus through Sheikh Maqsud, a Kurdish-controlled enclave between east Aleppo and the government-held west on 27 November 2016George Ourfalian/AFPDisplaced families arrive at a makeshift camp in the government-held district of Jibreen as government forces advance in rebel-held areas of AleppoGeorge Ourfalian/AFPDisplaced families gather at a makeshift camp in the government-held district of Jibreen on 27 November 2016George Ourfalian/AFPFamilies who fled eastern Aleppo gather at a makeshift camp in the government-held district of JibreenGeorge Ourfalian/AFPA Red Crescent vehicle carrying mattresses for people who fled east Aleppo is seen in a government-held-area of the city. Handout picture provided by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)SANA/Reuters
