Aleppo rebels form new anti-Assad alliance
December 2, 2016, 6:26 pm

The Syrian army is pushing ahead as it begins liberating major parts of rebel-held eastern Aleppo [Xinhua]

Rebel groups are trying to hamper further gains by the Syrian government forces and their allies, which have in recent days, recaptured almost a third of the rebel-held areas in the eastern part of the city.

Speaking from Turkey, the sources said the new alliance would be called the “Aleppo Army” and would led by the commander of the Jabha Shamiya rebel faction, one of the major groups fighting in northern Syria under the Free Syrian Army banner, Reuters reports.

Bad weather on Thursday also hampered aerial bombardment on the target districts, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Meanwhile, Turkey and Russia, two of the biggest backers of opposing sides in the war, agreed on the need for a halt to fighting on Thursday in order to deliver aid.

“A ceasefire must be achieved in all of Syria, notably in Aleppo,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told a joint news conference in Turkey, adding that Ankara was in agreement with Russia in broad terms on the need for a ceasefire, humanitarian aid and political transition.

Both countries still fundamentally disagree, however, on the legitimacy of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.

Meanwhile, Russia on Friday reiterate its support of Al-Assad saying it would stand behind the president and the Syrian army until Aleppo has been rid of “terrorists” – its reference to Islamist rebels there.

But the UN says that Aleppo is turning into “one giant graveyard” for civilians.

Russia says it has dispatched medical supplies, doctors, field and mobile hospitals to aid the refugees fleeing the fighting.

On Thursday, Russia proposed establishing four humanitarian corridors into eastern Aleppo to supply aid and evacuate the needy.

On Friday, Iran said it had dispatched aid to Aleppo, including 150,000 cans of food.

The BRICS Post with input from Agencies