East Aleppo civilians ‘shot at’ by rebels to prevent them leaving during truce

Source: Independent

Syria’s government says it has opened a new humanitarian corridor for those who wish to leave east Aleppo during the city’s temporary ceasefire, but residents inside the siege barricades say they are being prevented from leaving by rebels.

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Several residents inside east Aleppo reported that people trying to cross into the West were shot at by mortar fire. ITV news crews reporting from West Aleppo said they saw rebel mortar rockets targeting checkpoints “scatter people as they fled for their lives”.

Rebel sources and activists from the Aleppo Media Centre said reports of the opposition stopping evacuations were fabricated.

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Analysts expect the Syrian operation to retake the entire city to intensify after the current truce ends. The intense bombing campaign - followed up by a slow but steady ground troop assault - to retake the city would mark a significant victory for President Bashar al-Assad, ending rebel control of Syria’s major urban centres.

Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/aleppo-crisis-latest-rebel-assad-blame-un-lack-evacuations-a7374081.html