Hundreds more Syrian rebels and civilians prepared Friday to leave Eastern Ghouta under a negotiated withdrawal, as Russia unilaterally announced a similar deal to empty the final pocket of the battered enclave.

The former rebel bastion on the outskirts of Damascus has been drained by a nearly six-week Syrian government assault and a pair of evacuation deals brokered by regime ally Moscow.

Under such agreements, rebels agree to hand over territory in exchange for safe passage for them and civilians to opposition zones in northwest Syria.

More than 36,000 people have already been bussed out of the enclave, and fresh evacuations were underway on Friday.

Around 1,000 people, a quarter of them fighters, were boarding buses in a pocket of Ghouta held by the Faylaq al-Rahman rebel faction, according to Syrian state media.

That agreement, reached last week, left the overpopulated, devastated town of Douma as the final rebel holdout in the region.

Russia's defence ministry on Friday said it had brokered a deal that would see rebels abandon Douma "shortly", but the fighters there quickly denied it.

"We categorically refuse leaving or being displaced," said Jaish al-Islam's spokesman Hamza Bayraqdar.&nbsp

"That's an essential demand of the negotiations. We have not reached an agreement yet," he told AFP, adding that talks were ongoing.&nbsp

Eastern Ghouta was the armed opposition's last stronghold around Damascus, which groups regularly targeted with rockets and mortar rounds.

Stalling talks&nbsp

To secure Damascus, President Bashar al-Assad launched a ferocious air and ground assault on February 18 to oust rebels from their perch in Ghouta.

More than 1,600 civilians have been killed in the onslaught, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group.

Troops pursued a divide-and-conquer strategy, seizing most of the enclave then breaking up what was left of it into three isolated pockets.

Moscow stepped in and swiftly announced two withdrawal agreements with rebels, the first of which saw more than 4,500 fighters and civilians bussed out of the town of Harasta.

The second deal, reached with Faylaq al-Rahman one week ago, has seen more than 31,000 people quit the towns of Arbin and Zamalka and the Jobar district.&nbsp

In the first two deals, rebels caved in to Russia's "leave or die" approach but negotiations for the Douma pocket, held by Jaish al-Islam, has looked more arduous.

Douma's population has swelled to an estimated 200,000 with people displaced from other bombed-out districts. &nbsp

Jaish al-Islam had been in talks with Russia to reach a settlement whereby they could stay, instead of being bused out like other rebels.&nbsp

But negotiations faltered over the group's demands of a general amnesty and safe passage for Douma residents to move freely across the country, a source with knowledge of the talks told AFP.&nbsp

Moscow threatened Jaish al-Islam with a renewed blitz on the town if they did not agree to withdraw, and Syrian troops have amassed around the holdout.&nbsp

'Nearly wiped out'

The rebel movement have also come under growing pressure from Douma's residents, hundreds of whom have organised demonstrations demanding a status update on the talks.

On Thursday, Russia's foreign minister said Syrian forces had ousted nearly all rebels from Ghouta.&nbsp

"As a result of this anti-terrorism operation in Eastern Ghouta, terrorist elements have nearly been wiped out of this suburb of the Syrian capital," Sergei Lavrov said.&nbsp

Syria's state news agency SANA said around 29,000 civilians had fled Douma in recent days, using a "corridor" opened up by advancing Syrian troops.

SANA said a total of 143,000 people in total had streamed out of Ghouta along such corridors and as part of the evacuation deals.

It did not confirm the agreement with Jaish al-Islam, but its correspondent said "preliminary information" indicated a deal was close to being reached.&nbsp

The rebels evacuated so far were bussed to the northwestern province of Idlib and one of the sticking points in the Douma talks appears to be the destination.

"The problem with Jaish al-Islam is that it's quite big, very cohesive, very organised, but it doesn't go well with anyone else," said Thomas Pierret, an analyst at the National Center for Scientific Research in Paris.

The former rebel bastion on the outskirts of Damascus has been drained by a nearly six-week Syrian government assault and a pair of evacuation deals brokered by regime ally Moscow

Hundreds more Syrian rebels and civilians prepared Friday to leave Eastern Ghouta under a negotiated withdrawal, as Russia unilaterally announced a similar deal to empty the final pocket of the battered enclave. The former rebel bastion on the outskirts of Damascus has been drained by a nearly six-week Syrian government assault and a pair of evacuation deals brokered by regime ally Moscow. Under such agreements, rebels agree to hand over territory in exchange for safe passage for them and civilians to opposition zones in northwest Syria. More than 36,000 people have already been bussed out of the enclave, and fresh evacuations were underway on Friday. Around 1,000 people, a quarter of them fighters, were boarding buses in a pocket of Ghouta held by the Faylaq al-Rahman rebel faction, according to Syrian state media. That agreement, reached last week, left the overpopulated, devastated town of Douma as the final rebel holdout in the region. Russia's defence ministry on Friday said it had brokered a deal that would see rebels abandon Douma "shortly", but the fighters there quickly denied it. "We categorically refuse leaving or being displaced," said Jaish al-Islam's spokesman Hamza Bayraqdar. "That's an essential demand of the negotiations. We have not reached an agreement yet," he told AFP, adding that talks were ongoing. Eastern Ghouta was the armed opposition's last stronghold around Damascus, which groups regularly targeted with rockets and mortar rounds. Stalling talks To secure Damascus, President Bashar al-Assad launched a ferocious air and ground assault on February 18 to oust rebels from their perch in Ghouta. More than 1,600 civilians have been killed in the onslaught, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group. Troops pursued a divide-and-conquer strategy, seizing most of the enclave then breaking up what was left of it into three isolated pockets. Moscow stepped in and swiftly announced two withdrawal agreements with rebels, the first of which saw more than 4,500 fighters and civilians bussed out of the town of Harasta. The second deal, reached with Faylaq al-Rahman one week ago, has seen more than 31,000 people quit the towns of Arbin and Zamalka and the Jobar district. In the first two deals, rebels caved in to Russia's "leave or die" approach but negotiations for the Douma pocket, held by Jaish al-Islam, has looked more arduous. Douma's population has swelled to an estimated 200,000 with people displaced from other bombed-out districts. Jaish al-Islam had been in talks with Russia to reach a settlement whereby they could stay, instead of being bused out like other rebels. But negotiations faltered over the group's demands of a general amnesty and safe passage for Douma residents to move freely across the country, a source with knowledge of the talks told AFP. Moscow threatened Jaish al-Islam with a renewed blitz on the town if they did not agree to withdraw, and Syrian troops have amassed around the holdout. 'Nearly wiped out' The rebel movement have also come under growing pressure from Douma's residents, hundreds of whom have organised demonstrations demanding a status update on the talks. On Thursday, Russia's foreign minister said Syrian forces had ousted nearly all rebels from Ghouta. "As a result of this anti-terrorism operation in Eastern Ghouta, terrorist elements have nearly been wiped out of this suburb of the Syrian capital," Sergei Lavrov said. Syria's state news agency SANA said around 29,000 civilians had fled Douma in recent days, using a "corridor" opened up by advancing Syrian troops. SANA said a total of 143,000 people in total had streamed out of Ghouta along such corridors and as part of the evacuation deals. It did not confirm the agreement with Jaish al-Islam, but its correspondent said "preliminary information" indicated a deal was close to being reached. The rebels evacuated so far were bussed to the northwestern province of Idlib and one of the sticking points in the Douma talks appears to be the destination. "The problem with Jaish al-Islam is that it's quite big, very cohesive, very organised, but it doesn't go well with anyone else," said Thomas Pierret, an analyst at the National Center for Scientific Research in Paris.

Syrians quit Ghouta as talks for last pocket stutter

Syrian rebels and their families began leaving Syria&#39;s Eastern Ghouta on Thursday under the first evacuation deal in the shrinking opposition enclave outside Damascus.

The agreement announced on Wednesday and brokered by regime ally Russia, could empty one of three rebel-held pockets in the region and mark a major advance in government efforts to secure the nearby capital.

It could also increase pressure on rebels to follow suit in the two other opposition-held pockets of the besieged enclave, where tens of thousands of civilians remain trapped under relentless bombardment.

State television said around 1,824 people -- including 319 fighters -- had boarded buses from the Eastern Ghouta town of Harasta until now held by the Ahrar al-Sham rebel group.&nbsp;

A military source said that the rebels and accompanying civilians had boarded buses and were in a buffer zone, waiting to cross into regime-controlled territory.

Another military source said around 2,000 people are expected to leave in total, including around 700 fighters on Thursday.

Ahrar al-Sham spokesman Munzer Fares said the evacuations could last several days.&nbsp;

They followed renewed air strikes in Ghouta early on Thursday which killed 20 civilians, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.&nbsp;

Since February 18, a devastating Russian-backed offensive on Eastern Ghouta has sliced the shrinking enclave into three isolated pockets.

Rebels cut off

Central Damascus lies within mortar range of Eastern Ghouta, and the evacuation deal came after the deadliest rebel rocket attack on the capital in months killed 44 civilians on Tuesday.

Rebel fire on Thursday killed four people in Damascus, state television said.

The regime&#39;s offensive on Ghouta has killed more than 1,500 civilians since February 18, according to Observatory.

The rebels and their families will be transported to the northwestern province of Idlib, which is held by a myriad of jihadist, Islamist and secular groups, many with links to Turkey.

The evacuation from Harasta will further isolate the rebel groups that control the remaining two pockets of Eastern Ghouta and pile pressure on them to accept similar deals.

Syrian Reconciliation Minister Ali Haidar told AFP that Ahrar al-Sham had negotiated with the Russian Centre for Reconciliation and that Damascus was not directly involved.

Nawar Oliver, an analyst at the Turkey-based Omran Centre, said fighters in Harasta &quot;were not able to impose a single one of their conditions&quot;.

&#39;Tragic&#39; conditions

Opposition figures in Ghouta said talks were underway for a deal to evacuate rebels from the enclave&#39;s main town, Douma.

Douma is controlled by the Jaish al-Islam group, while a pocket of territory around the town of Zamalka, closer to the capital, is held by Faylaq al-Rahman with a small jihadist presence.

Air strikes on Zamalka killed 16 civilians on Thursday, the Observatory said.

An AFP reporter in Douma said hundreds of civilians were fleeing the town.

Similar evacuation deals have seen the government retake a string of former rebel bastions.

A May 2014 deal saw rebels pull out of the third city Homs, once labelled the &quot;capital of the revolution&quot; that sparked Syria&#39;s seven-year civil war.

In December 2016, the army retook the whole of the second city Aleppo as rebels withdrew in one of their worst defeats of the war.

Those agreements also followed devastating bombardments that took a heavy toll on trapped civilians.

The assault on Ghouta has sparked a mass exodus of civilians from the shrinking rebel enclave.

Some 50,000 people have reached shelters in the government-controlled territory in the past week, according to the United Nations.

On Wednesday, the UN&#39;s humanitarian coordinator in Syria said those displaced were living in &quot;tragic&quot; conditions.

&quot;People may have escaped fighting, fear and insecurity but they find themselves in a place without anywhere to wash themselves,&quot; Ali al-Zaatari said.

Syrian rebels and their families began leaving Syria's Eastern Ghouta on Thursday under the first evacuation deal in the shrinking opposition enclave outside Damascus

Syrian rebels and their families began leaving Syria's Eastern Ghouta on Thursday under the first evacuation deal in the shrinking opposition enclave outside Damascus. The agreement announced on Wednesday and brokered by regime ally Russia, could empty one of three rebel-held pockets in the region and mark a major advance in government efforts to secure the nearby capital. It could also increase pressure on rebels to follow suit in the two other opposition-held pockets of the besieged enclave, where tens of thousands of civilians remain trapped under relentless bombardment. State television said around 1,824 people -- including 319 fighters -- had boarded buses from the Eastern Ghouta town of Harasta until now held by the Ahrar al-Sham rebel group. A military source said that the rebels and accompanying civilians had boarded buses and were in a buffer zone, waiting to cross into regime-controlled territory. Another military source said around 2,000 people are expected to leave in total, including around 700 fighters on Thursday. Ahrar al-Sham spokesman Munzer Fares said the evacuations could last several days. They followed renewed air strikes in Ghouta early on Thursday which killed 20 civilians, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Since February 18, a devastating Russian-backed offensive on Eastern Ghouta has sliced the shrinking enclave into three isolated pockets. Rebels cut off Central Damascus lies within mortar range of Eastern Ghouta, and the evacuation deal came after the deadliest rebel rocket attack on the capital in months killed 44 civilians on Tuesday. Rebel fire on Thursday killed four people in Damascus, state television said. The regime's offensive on Ghouta has killed more than 1,500 civilians since February 18, according to Observatory. The rebels and their families will be transported to the northwestern province of Idlib, which is held by a myriad of jihadist, Islamist and secular groups, many with links to Turkey. The evacuation from Harasta will further isolate the rebel groups that control the remaining two pockets of Eastern Ghouta and pile pressure on them to accept similar deals. Syrian Reconciliation Minister Ali Haidar told AFP that Ahrar al-Sham had negotiated with the Russian Centre for Reconciliation and that Damascus was not directly involved. Nawar Oliver, an analyst at the Turkey-based Omran Centre, said fighters in Harasta "were not able to impose a single one of their conditions". 'Tragic' conditions Opposition figures in Ghouta said talks were underway for a deal to evacuate rebels from the enclave's main town, Douma. Douma is controlled by the Jaish al-Islam group, while a pocket of territory around the town of Zamalka, closer to the capital, is held by Faylaq al-Rahman with a small jihadist presence. Air strikes on Zamalka killed 16 civilians on Thursday, the Observatory said. An AFP reporter in Douma said hundreds of civilians were fleeing the town. Similar evacuation deals have seen the government retake a string of former rebel bastions. A May 2014 deal saw rebels pull out of the third city Homs, once labelled the "capital of the revolution" that sparked Syria's seven-year civil war. In December 2016, the army retook the whole of the second city Aleppo as rebels withdrew in one of their worst defeats of the war. Those agreements also followed devastating bombardments that took a heavy toll on trapped civilians. The assault on Ghouta has sparked a mass exodus of civilians from the shrinking rebel enclave. Some 50,000 people have reached shelters in the government-controlled territory in the past week, according to the United Nations. On Wednesday, the UN's humanitarian coordinator in Syria said those displaced were living in "tragic" conditions. "People may have escaped fighting, fear and insecurity but they find themselves in a place without anywhere to wash themselves," Ali al-Zaatari said.

First rebels quit Syria enclave under Russia-brokered deal

A day after Turkish troops and their Syrian rebel allies seized control of Afrin, a Turkish aid group started distributing relief supplies in the town centre on Monday, but residents continued to leave after widespread reports of looting.

Triumphant Syrian rebel fighters stood on a fallen statue, firing shots in the air, while military vehicles patrolled streets still littered with the debris from Turkey&#39;s eight-week offensive to drive out Kurdish YPG fighters.

Shops were closed and some people left for villages outside Afrin, the main town in a pocket of Kurdish-controlled territory in northwest Syria. One resident said the Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army rebel fighters who swept into Afrin on Sunday morning had been looting shops and homes.

&quot;The Free Syrian Army came and entered into Afrin and supposedly we were going to be safe. But it turned out to be the opposite,&quot; said the man, who did not give his name.

&quot;The Free Syrian Army looted our cars, looted our houses, looted our shops. It has become like we are all homeless (even) in our houses. No food, no drink, no security.&quot;

Syria&#39;s foreign ministry, in a letter to the United Nations published by state media, said Afrin residents&#39; belongings were looted and their houses destroyed in the Turkey-led campaign.

An FSA spokesman in the region was not immediately available for comment.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan&#39;s spokesman said Ankara was taking reports of looting in Afrin seriously. &quot;We are looking into the incidents. Apparently they have happened. Some groups apparently did not follow the orders that were given by their commanders,&quot; Ibrahim Kalin told CNN.

Another man in Afrin, loading mattresses, carpets and other goods onto the back of a tractor trailer, said his family moved to the town from Bulbul, 30 km (20 miles) away, when Turkey launched its air and ground offensive in January.

&quot;The bombardment started so we fled to Afrin. Now we are returning from Afrin to our home because it&#39;s safer,&quot; he said.

The United Nations said two thirds of 323,000 residents had fled the wider Afrin region since the start of Turkey&#39;s campaign to drive out Kurdish YPG fighters, who it says are an extension of Kurdish militants waging a prolonged insurgency in southern Turkey.

It appealed for urgent supplies to &quot;stem the catastrophic situation&quot; for tens of thousands of people in Afrin and in Ghouta, where Syrian government forces are fighting to crush the last major rebel-held enclave on the edge of the capital.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) called on Monday for greater access to the civilian population of Afrin, saying that Turkey&#39;s Red Crescent lacked credibility among the Syrian Kurds after the Turkish military operation.

Turkey, however, has promised to support people in Afrin and on Monday its emergency relief agency AFAD was distributing aid in the centre of the town.

&quot;Since yesterday when the Turkish Army and Free Syrian Army entered here our duty started for the humanitarian affairs,&quot; said AFAD&#39;s director Mehmed Gulluoglu.

&quot;Today we are here for need assessment and also for the first distribution. We are distributing food, hygiene kits and some prepared food and some blankets any case.&quot;

Syrian rebels won their fight to drive out Kurdish YPG fighters and were on the streets celebrating, firing shots in the air.

A day after Turkish troops and their Syrian rebel allies seized control of Afrin, a Turkish aid group started distributing relief supplies in the town centre on Monday, but residents continued to leave after widespread reports of looting. Triumphant Syrian rebel fighters stood on a fallen statue, firing shots in the air, while military vehicles patrolled streets still littered with the debris from Turkey's eight-week offensive to drive out Kurdish YPG fighters. Shops were closed and some people left for villages outside Afrin, the main town in a pocket of Kurdish-controlled territory in northwest Syria. One resident said the Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army rebel fighters who swept into Afrin on Sunday morning had been looting shops and homes. "The Free Syrian Army came and entered into Afrin and supposedly we were going to be safe. But it turned out to be the opposite," said the man, who did not give his name. "The Free Syrian Army looted our cars, looted our houses, looted our shops. It has become like we are all homeless (even) in our houses. No food, no drink, no security." Syria's foreign ministry, in a letter to the United Nations published by state media, said Afrin residents' belongings were looted and their houses destroyed in the Turkey-led campaign. An FSA spokesman in the region was not immediately available for comment. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman said Ankara was taking reports of looting in Afrin seriously. "We are looking into the incidents. Apparently they have happened. Some groups apparently did not follow the orders that were given by their commanders," Ibrahim Kalin told CNN. Another man in Afrin, loading mattresses, carpets and other goods onto the back of a tractor trailer, said his family moved to the town from Bulbul, 30 km (20 miles) away, when Turkey launched its air and ground offensive in January. "The bombardment started so we fled to Afrin. Now we are returning from Afrin to our home because it's safer," he said. The United Nations said two thirds of 323,000 residents had fled the wider Afrin region since the start of Turkey's campaign to drive out Kurdish YPG fighters, who it says are an extension of Kurdish militants waging a prolonged insurgency in southern Turkey. It appealed for urgent supplies to "stem the catastrophic situation" for tens of thousands of people in Afrin and in Ghouta, where Syrian government forces are fighting to crush the last major rebel-held enclave on the edge of the capital. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) called on Monday for greater access to the civilian population of Afrin, saying that Turkey's Red Crescent lacked credibility among the Syrian Kurds after the Turkish military operation. Turkey, however, has promised to support people in Afrin and on Monday its emergency relief agency AFAD was distributing aid in the centre of the town. "Since yesterday when the Turkish Army and Free Syrian Army entered here our duty started for the humanitarian affairs," said AFAD's director Mehmed Gulluoglu. "Today we are here for need assessment and also for the first distribution. We are distributing food, hygiene kits and some prepared food and some blankets any case."

After the battle: Aid, gunfire and looting in Syria's Afrin

Rebel fighters shot down a Russian plane over Syria&#39;s northwest Idlib province on Saturday, a monitor said, taking its Russian pilot captive.&nbsp;

&quot;Rebel factions shot down a Sukhoi 25. The Russian pilot came down in a parachute, before being captured,&quot; said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.&nbsp;

He could not immediately confirm which faction had shot down the warplane but hardline opposition factions and the jihadist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) are active in the area.

Rebel fighters shot down a Russian plane over Syria's northwest Idlib province on Saturday, a monitor said, taking its Russian pilot captive

Rebel fighters shot down a Russian plane over Syria's northwest Idlib province on Saturday, a monitor said, taking its Russian pilot captive. "Rebel factions shot down a Sukhoi 25. The Russian pilot came down in a parachute, before being captured," said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. He could not immediately confirm which faction had shot down the warplane but hardline opposition factions and the jihadist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) are active in the area.

Syria rebels down Russian plane, capture pilot: Reports

Turkish authorities have detained 311 people suspected of disseminating &quot;terror propaganda&quot; over Ankara&#39;s offensive against a<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-intensifies-syria-campaign-against-kurdish-militia-31015"> Kurdish militia in Syria</a>, the interior ministry said on Monday.

The suspects have been taken into custody since the operation against the Syrian Kurdish People&#39;s Protection Units (YPG) militia began on January 20.

Ankara views the YPG as a &quot;terrorist&quot; offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers&#39; Party (PKK), which has been waging a three-decade insurgency against the Turkish state.

The PKK is blacklisted as a terror organisation by Ankara and its Western allies.

The operation, supporting Syrian rebels with Turkish ground troops and air strikes, seeks to eliminate the YPG from its western enclave of Afrin in Syria close to the Turkish border.

Although the interior ministry did not give details, police raids have taken place across the country, from Izmir on the Aegean Sea to Igdir and Van in the east.

Rights groups have expressed renewed concerns over freedom of expression in Turkey. Human Rights Watch last week criticised Ankara&#39;s &quot;intolerance of criticism&quot;.

Among those taken into custody were journalists including writer and activist Nurcan Baysal but she was released on Wednesday.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for national unity over the offensive and has warned that those who responded to calls for protests would pay a &quot;heavy price&quot;.

Meanwhile, Erdogan&#39;s spokesman Ibrahim Kalin has urged the public and media to be careful of &quot;lying, fake, distortive and provocative news, images and gossip&quot;.

The authorities believe there is deliberate disinformation, especially on social media which includes the use of images that have been &quot;manipulated&quot; or taken from other conflicts but presented as from the current operation.

Local officials of Turkey&#39;s pro-Kurdish Peoples&#39; Democratic Party (HDP) have also been detained while the party has criticised the offensive calling it an &quot;invasion&quot;.

&quot;(The HDP) invites the international community to take immediate action to stop it,&quot; it said in a letter on Monday addressed to the United Nations and the European Union.

An HDP official told AFP that 209 of its members had been detained over allegations of &quot;terror propaganda&quot; and &quot;inciting people to hatred and hostility&quot; since the offensive was launched.

The Turkish government accuses the HDP of being a political front for the PKK but the party denies the claims.

The suspects have been taken into custody since the operation against the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia began on January 20

Turkish authorities have detained 311 people suspected of disseminating "terror propaganda" over Ankara's offensive against a Kurdish militia in Syria, the interior ministry said on Monday. The suspects have been taken into custody since the operation against the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia began on January 20. Ankara views the YPG as a "terrorist" offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been waging a three-decade insurgency against the Turkish state. The PKK is blacklisted as a terror organisation by Ankara and its Western allies. The operation, supporting Syrian rebels with Turkish ground troops and air strikes, seeks to eliminate the YPG from its western enclave of Afrin in Syria close to the Turkish border. Although the interior ministry did not give details, police raids have taken place across the country, from Izmir on the Aegean Sea to Igdir and Van in the east. Rights groups have expressed renewed concerns over freedom of expression in Turkey. Human Rights Watch last week criticised Ankara's "intolerance of criticism". Among those taken into custody were journalists including writer and activist Nurcan Baysal but she was released on Wednesday. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for national unity over the offensive and has warned that those who responded to calls for protests would pay a "heavy price". Meanwhile, Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin has urged the public and media to be careful of "lying, fake, distortive and provocative news, images and gossip". The authorities believe there is deliberate disinformation, especially on social media which includes the use of images that have been "manipulated" or taken from other conflicts but presented as from the current operation. Local officials of Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) have also been detained while the party has criticised the offensive calling it an "invasion". "(The HDP) invites the international community to take immediate action to stop it," it said in a letter on Monday addressed to the United Nations and the European Union. An HDP official told AFP that 209 of its members had been detained over allegations of "terror propaganda" and "inciting people to hatred and hostility" since the offensive was launched. The Turkish government accuses the HDP of being a political front for the PKK but the party denies the claims.

Turkey detains over 300 for 'terror propaganda' against Syria operation

Rebels launched a counter attack against Syrian government forces and their allies in Idlib province on Thursday, seeking to roll back an advance that is fuelling tension with neigbouring Turkey.

Fighting raged in the area, where a government offensive backed by Iran-backed militia has gathered pace in the last two weeks, according to rebels and a military news service run by the Lebanese group Hezbollah, which is fighting on the government side.

Idlib province is the biggest chunk of Syria still held by rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad, with a population swollen by Syrians who have fled government advances in other parts of the country. Assad has defeated rebels in many parts of western Syria with critical help from Russia and Iran.

The recent military escalation in western Syria has included an unprecedented attack by a squadron of drones on Russian military bases and has cast a shadow over Moscow&#39;s efforts to convene a Syria peace congress later this month.

The Hezbollah-run news service said the army and its allies were repelling a &quot;fierce assault&quot; by the Nusra Front, formerly al Qaeda&#39;s affiliate in the Syrian war, and groups linked to it.

Rebels fighting under the banner of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) said in a statement they had set up a joint operations room to repel the offensive and to take back areas seized by the government in northeastern Hama and southern Idlib.

&quot;The operation is to hit the belly of the regime deep into liberated territories and to encircle their advancing forces,&quot; said Abdul Hakim al Rahamon, a senior official in Jaish al Nasr, an FSA faction taking part.

Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an alliance led by the Nusra Front, the dominant force in Idlib, said it had already made gains.

&quot;With Allah&#39;s) blessings we drew plans and prepared ourselves and are encircling them,&quot; said Abu al Naji, a commander from Tahrir al Sham. &quot;We have killed many.&quot;

Rebels said they had captured some 15 villages and seized 60 government fighters. A Syrian military source denied this and dismissed rebel talk of a counter attack as propaganda. The source said fierce battles were however underway in the area and army advances were continuing.

Rebel sources said warplanes had struck Khan Sheikhoun and Saraqeb, two major population centres in Idlib province that are among several towns that have been targeted in the latest offensive.

The latest push by the army and its allies has alarmed Turkey which has been deploying forces inside northern Idlib and setting up bases which it says are part of agreements with Iran and Russia over a descalation zone in Idlib.

The Turkish government said the Idlib offensive was endangering the effort to reach a resolution of the conflict and accused the Syrian government of using the pretext of fighting militants to wage a widescale attack.

Ankara is concerned that wider fighting in the province could bring tens of thousands of Syrians fleeing from the battlefields on its borders far beyond the numbers now fleeing.

Many Syrians living in rebel-held areas see Turkey&#39;s military intervention as a bulwark against a relentless bombing campaign by Syrian and Russian airforces they blame for killing and injuring hundreds of civilians in urban areas in recent months, away from the frontlines.

Rebels said they had captured some 15 villages and seized 60 government fighters

Rebels launched a counter attack against Syrian government forces and their allies in Idlib province on Thursday, seeking to roll back an advance that is fuelling tension with neigbouring Turkey. Fighting raged in the area, where a government offensive backed by Iran-backed militia has gathered pace in the last two weeks, according to rebels and a military news service run by the Lebanese group Hezbollah, which is fighting on the government side. Idlib province is the biggest chunk of Syria still held by rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad, with a population swollen by Syrians who have fled government advances in other parts of the country. Assad has defeated rebels in many parts of western Syria with critical help from Russia and Iran. The recent military escalation in western Syria has included an unprecedented attack by a squadron of drones on Russian military bases and has cast a shadow over Moscow's efforts to convene a Syria peace congress later this month. The Hezbollah-run news service said the army and its allies were repelling a "fierce assault" by the Nusra Front, formerly al Qaeda's affiliate in the Syrian war, and groups linked to it. Rebels fighting under the banner of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) said in a statement they had set up a joint operations room to repel the offensive and to take back areas seized by the government in northeastern Hama and southern Idlib. "The operation is to hit the belly of the regime deep into liberated territories and to encircle their advancing forces," said Abdul Hakim al Rahamon, a senior official in Jaish al Nasr, an FSA faction taking part. Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an alliance led by the Nusra Front, the dominant force in Idlib, said it had already made gains. "With Allah's) blessings we drew plans and prepared ourselves and are encircling them," said Abu al Naji, a commander from Tahrir al Sham. "We have killed many." Rebels said they had captured some 15 villages and seized 60 government fighters. A Syrian military source denied this and dismissed rebel talk of a counter attack as propaganda. The source said fierce battles were however underway in the area and army advances were continuing. Rebel sources said warplanes had struck Khan Sheikhoun and Saraqeb, two major population centres in Idlib province that are among several towns that have been targeted in the latest offensive. The latest push by the army and its allies has alarmed Turkey which has been deploying forces inside northern Idlib and setting up bases which it says are part of agreements with Iran and Russia over a descalation zone in Idlib. The Turkish government said the Idlib offensive was endangering the effort to reach a resolution of the conflict and accused the Syrian government of using the pretext of fighting militants to wage a widescale attack. Ankara is concerned that wider fighting in the province could bring tens of thousands of Syrians fleeing from the battlefields on its borders far beyond the numbers now fleeing. Many Syrians living in rebel-held areas see Turkey's military intervention as a bulwark against a relentless bombing campaign by Syrian and Russian airforces they blame for killing and injuring hundreds of civilians in urban areas in recent months, away from the frontlines.

Syrian rebels declare counter-attack in Idlib province

Russia&#39;s defence ministry said Saturday that its officials had signed a deal with moderate Syrian rebels at peace talks in Cairo on how a safe zone near Damascus will function.

&quot;As a result of talks held in Cairo between Russian defence ministry officials and moderate Syrian opposition brokered by the Egyptian side... agreements have been signed on how the Eastern Ghouta de-escalation zone will function,&quot; the defence ministry said in a statement sent to AFP.

The rebel stronghold of Eastern Ghouta is in one of four proposed &quot;de-escalation zones&quot; designated in an agreement reached by government allies Iran and Russia and rebel backer Turkey in May.

But the deal has yet to be fully implemented over disagreements on the monitoring mechanism for the safe zones.

The most recent talks in Kazakhstan this month between Russia, Turkey and Iran failed to iron out of the details of the four safe zones.

Russia said that the sides have now signed agreements under which &quot;the borders of the de-escalation zone are defined as well as the deployment locations and powers of the forces monitoring the de-escalation.&quot;

It said the sides had also agreed &quot;routes to supply humanitarian aid to the population and for free movement of residents.&quot;

Russia said it plans to send in the first humanitarian convoy and evacuate the wounded &quot;in the next few days.&quot;

The Eastern Ghouta region is a major rebel stronghold near the capital, and it has been the frequent target of government military operations.

More than 330,000 people have been killed in Syria since its conflict broke out in March 2011 with anti-government protests.

Russia's defence ministry says its officials have signed a deal with moderate Syrian rebels at peace talks in Cairo on how a safe zone near Damascus will function

Russia's defence ministry said Saturday that its officials had signed a deal with moderate Syrian rebels at peace talks in Cairo on how a safe zone near Damascus will function. "As a result of talks held in Cairo between Russian defence ministry officials and moderate Syrian opposition brokered by the Egyptian side... agreements have been signed on how the Eastern Ghouta de-escalation zone will function," the defence ministry said in a statement sent to AFP. The rebel stronghold of Eastern Ghouta is in one of four proposed "de-escalation zones" designated in an agreement reached by government allies Iran and Russia and rebel backer Turkey in May. But the deal has yet to be fully implemented over disagreements on the monitoring mechanism for the safe zones. The most recent talks in Kazakhstan this month between Russia, Turkey and Iran failed to iron out of the details of the four safe zones. Russia said that the sides have now signed agreements under which "the borders of the de-escalation zone are defined as well as the deployment locations and powers of the forces monitoring the de-escalation." It said the sides had also agreed "routes to supply humanitarian aid to the population and for free movement of residents." Russia said it plans to send in the first humanitarian convoy and evacuate the wounded "in the next few days." The Eastern Ghouta region is a major rebel stronghold near the capital, and it has been the frequent target of government military operations. More than 330,000 people have been killed in Syria since its conflict broke out in March 2011 with anti-government protests.

Russia says agrees to safe zone mechanism with Syrian rebels

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said that de-escalation zones proposed by his ally Russia were a chance for rebels to &quot;reconcile&quot; with Damascus and drive out Islamist militants, but vowed to fight on calling U.N.-led peace talks fruitless.

Assad pledged, in an interview with Belarusian TV Channel ONT aired on Thursday, to defend the zones and to crush, with the support of Iran and Hezbollah, those who try to breach them.

Efforts over the past year to halt the six-year&nbsp;Syrian war have fallen flat, and a ceasefire agreed to by the government side and rebels in December was violated early on.

Russia&#39;s proposal for zones took effect last week, covering areas in the west of the country and Damascus has suggested there could be a role for Russian military police.

Assad said the primary aim was to protect civilians.

&quot;The second goal is to give the militants who want reconciliation with the state a chance ... to settle their cases, hand over their weapons in return for amnesty,&quot; he said.

Damascus has said rebels should help drive jihadist groups out of the de-escalation zones, and sees so-called reconciliation agreements, which have involved the evacuation of rebels from besieged areas, as an alternative to peace talks.

Violence reduced somewhat after the de-escalation zones were announced last week, but heavy fighting persists in some areas.

Syria&#39;s opposition rejected the Russian plan, calling it a threat to the country&#39;s territorial integrity and refusing to recognise Iran as a guarantor of any ceasefire plan.

Assad said he was &quot;not tired&quot; and would continue to fight terrorists - the government&#39;s term for all insurgents.&nbsp;

He also said U.S. President Donald Trump had ordered strikes against a&nbsp;Syrian air base last month - a response to an alleged chemical attack against civilians - in order to &quot;present his credentials&quot; to U.S. political and lobby groups.

Trump said at the time that Assad&#39;s government had gone &quot;beyond a red line&quot; with a poison gas attack on civilians and said his attitude toward&nbsp;Syria&nbsp;and Assad had changed.

Syria&nbsp;denies carrying out the attack.

(Reuters)

Russia's proposal for zones took effect last week, covering areas in the west of the country and Damascus has suggested there could be a role for Russian military police.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said that de-escalation zones proposed by his ally Russia were a chance for rebels to "reconcile" with Damascus and drive out Islamist militants, but vowed to fight on calling U.N.-led peace talks fruitless. Assad pledged, in an interview with Belarusian TV Channel ONT aired on Thursday, to defend the zones and to crush, with the support of Iran and Hezbollah, those who try to breach them. Efforts over the past year to halt the six-year Syrian war have fallen flat, and a ceasefire agreed to by the government side and rebels in December was violated early on. Russia's proposal for zones took effect last week, covering areas in the west of the country and Damascus has suggested there could be a role for Russian military police. Assad said the primary aim was to protect civilians. "The second goal is to give the militants who want reconciliation with the state a chance ... to settle their cases, hand over their weapons in return for amnesty," he said. Damascus has said rebels should help drive jihadist groups out of the de-escalation zones, and sees so-called reconciliation agreements, which have involved the evacuation of rebels from besieged areas, as an alternative to peace talks. Violence reduced somewhat after the de-escalation zones were announced last week, but heavy fighting persists in some areas. Syria's opposition rejected the Russian plan, calling it a threat to the country's territorial integrity and refusing to recognise Iran as a guarantor of any ceasefire plan. Assad said he was "not tired" and would continue to fight terrorists - the government's term for all insurgents. He also said U.S. President Donald Trump had ordered strikes against a Syrian air base last month - a response to an alleged chemical attack against civilians - in order to "present his credentials" to U.S. political and lobby groups. Trump said at the time that Assad's government had gone "beyond a red line" with a poison gas attack on civilians and said his attitude toward Syria and Assad had changed. Syria denies carrying out the attack. (Reuters)

De-escalation zones chance for rebels to 'reconcile': Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

Syrian rebels and their families began evacuating from a district of Damascus for the first time on Monday, bringing the government closer to recapturing all of the capital.

The evacuation began days after regime backers Russia and Iran and rebel supporter Turkey signed a deal to implement &quot;de-escalation zones&quot; where the government and opposition will halt hostilities.

Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on Monday rejected any role for the United Nations or international forces in monitoring the zones.

The deal to evacuate Barzeh district mirrors similar agreements for opposition-held territory elsewhere, allowing fighters safe passage in exchange for surrender.

State television cited the Damascus provincial governor as saying a first wave of 1,022 people, including 568 fighters, had left Barzeh on Monday.

The channel said the evacuation would take five days, but that rebels who chose to stay could do so if they registered with the government.

Those leaving will head to the rebel-held province of Idlib, in Syria&#39;s northwest.

The evacuation deal was struck late Sunday night, and dozens of people gathered in Barzeh from Monday morning.

An AFP photographer saw rebel fighters carrying light weapons looking on as children and women in brightly-coloured headscarves pulled shabby suitcases and duffel bags.

A source from the pro-government National Defence Forces said rebel fighters would be allowed to take their &quot;personal weapons&quot; with them.

Negotiations were ongoing for a similar deal in the district of Qabun, in Damascus&#39;s northeast, which forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have been shelling heavily for weeks.

&#39;De-escalation&#39; zones

&quot;We are working on Qabun and there is the Yarmuk camp, where talks are underway for the evacuation of armed groups,&quot; said Muallem.

Assad&#39;s government controls all but six districts of Damascus: Barzeh, Qabun, Jobar, Tishreen, Tadamun, and Yarmuk camp.

The evacuation is a first in the capital, but the Barzeh agreement follows a model of &quot;reconciliation deals&quot; implemented across the country.

The government touts such deals as the best way to end the six-year conflict, which erupted in March 2011 with anti-regime protests and has killed more than 320,000 people.

But the opposition says it is forced into them by heavy government bombardment and siege tactics.

Monday&#39;s evacuation began as battlefronts quietened in Syrian territory included in four &quot;de-escalation zones&quot; agreed by Russia, Iran and Turkey.

The agreement, inked in the Kazakh capital Astana, excludes Damascus city.

It mandates an end to hostilities, including air strikes, in specified zones for six months.

The deal came into effect on midnight Friday, with fighting subsiding, but the co-sponsors have until June 4 to submit maps finalising the borders of the zones.

It calls for continued fighting against the Islamic State group, which is largely absent from the areas where the zones will be implemented, as well as former Al-Qaeda affiliate Fateh al-Sham Front.

Fateh al-Sham has a powerful presence particularly in Idlib province, which is included in the zones, where it is allied with other opposition groups.

Russian draft resolution

The deal says the &quot;de-escalation zones&quot; would be bordered by security areas with checkpoints and observation centres &quot;ensured by the forces of the guarantors by consensus&quot;, but that &quot;third-party&quot; monitors could also be deployed.

But on Monday, Muallem rejected UN or international monitors.

&quot;We do not accept a role for the United Nations or international forces to monitor the agreement,&quot; he said.

He added there could be a role &quot;as the Russian guarantor has said, for military police&quot;, but it was unclear if he was referring to Syrian or foreign units.

Russia meanwhile said it had tabled a draft UN Security Council resolution backing the safe zone deal.

A source at the UN told Russia&#39;s Interfax news agency that &quot;a vote on the draft will take place possibly this week&quot;.

Western diplomats expressed reservations, saying it was premature to endorse the Astana deal until final arrangements for the proposed &quot;de-escalation zones&quot; were agreed.

The agreement has been received with caution by Washington, with US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis saying it was being studied.

&quot;Does this proposal have a hope for ending this war? We&#39;ll have to look at it. The devil is always in the details, so we are going to have to look at the details,&quot; he said.

Russia has said warplanes belonging to the US-led coalition fighting IS will be barred from operating in the four &quot;de-escalation zones&quot;.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov are set to discuss the agreement when they meet on Wednesday in Washington.

(AFP)

A first wave of 1,022 people, including 568 fighters, reportedly left Damascus' Barzeh on Monday.

Syrian rebels and their families began evacuating from a district of Damascus for the first time on Monday, bringing the government closer to recapturing all of the capital. The evacuation began days after regime backers Russia and Iran and rebel supporter Turkey signed a deal to implement "de-escalation zones" where the government and opposition will halt hostilities. Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on Monday rejected any role for the United Nations or international forces in monitoring the zones. The deal to evacuate Barzeh district mirrors similar agreements for opposition-held territory elsewhere, allowing fighters safe passage in exchange for surrender. State television cited the Damascus provincial governor as saying a first wave of 1,022 people, including 568 fighters, had left Barzeh on Monday. The channel said the evacuation would take five days, but that rebels who chose to stay could do so if they registered with the government. Those leaving will head to the rebel-held province of Idlib, in Syria's northwest. The evacuation deal was struck late Sunday night, and dozens of people gathered in Barzeh from Monday morning. An AFP photographer saw rebel fighters carrying light weapons looking on as children and women in brightly-coloured headscarves pulled shabby suitcases and duffel bags. A source from the pro-government National Defence Forces said rebel fighters would be allowed to take their "personal weapons" with them. Negotiations were ongoing for a similar deal in the district of Qabun, in Damascus's northeast, which forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have been shelling heavily for weeks. 'De-escalation' zones "We are working on Qabun and there is the Yarmuk camp, where talks are underway for the evacuation of armed groups," said Muallem. Assad's government controls all but six districts of Damascus: Barzeh, Qabun, Jobar, Tishreen, Tadamun, and Yarmuk camp. The evacuation is a first in the capital, but the Barzeh agreement follows a model of "reconciliation deals" implemented across the country. The government touts such deals as the best way to end the six-year conflict, which erupted in March 2011 with anti-regime protests and has killed more than 320,000 people. But the opposition says it is forced into them by heavy government bombardment and siege tactics. Monday's evacuation began as battlefronts quietened in Syrian territory included in four "de-escalation zones" agreed by Russia, Iran and Turkey. The agreement, inked in the Kazakh capital Astana, excludes Damascus city. It mandates an end to hostilities, including air strikes, in specified zones for six months. The deal came into effect on midnight Friday, with fighting subsiding, but the co-sponsors have until June 4 to submit maps finalising the borders of the zones. It calls for continued fighting against the Islamic State group, which is largely absent from the areas where the zones will be implemented, as well as former Al-Qaeda affiliate Fateh al-Sham Front. Fateh al-Sham has a powerful presence particularly in Idlib province, which is included in the zones, where it is allied with other opposition groups. Russian draft resolution The deal says the "de-escalation zones" would be bordered by security areas with checkpoints and observation centres "ensured by the forces of the guarantors by consensus", but that "third-party" monitors could also be deployed. But on Monday, Muallem rejected UN or international monitors. "We do not accept a role for the United Nations or international forces to monitor the agreement," he said. He added there could be a role "as the Russian guarantor has said, for military police", but it was unclear if he was referring to Syrian or foreign units. Russia meanwhile said it had tabled a draft UN Security Council resolution backing the safe zone deal. A source at the UN told Russia's Interfax news agency that "a vote on the draft will take place possibly this week". Western diplomats expressed reservations, saying it was premature to endorse the Astana deal until final arrangements for the proposed "de-escalation zones" were agreed. The agreement has been received with caution by Washington, with US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis saying it was being studied. "Does this proposal have a hope for ending this war? We'll have to look at it. The devil is always in the details, so we are going to have to look at the details," he said. Russia has said warplanes belonging to the US-led coalition fighting IS will be barred from operating in the four "de-escalation zones". US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov are set to discuss the agreement when they meet on Wednesday in Washington. (AFP)

Syria: First evacuations from Damascus rebel district

Syria&#39;s army and key ally Russia on Thursday announced a nationwide ceasefire to take effect at midnight, in a potential major breakthrough after nearly six years of civil war.

The deal was brokered by Russia and Turkey, which back opposing sides in the conflict, but does not involve Washington, which has negotiated previous ceasefires with Moscow.

The agreement, hailed by Syria&#39;s government as a &quot;real opportunity&quot; to find a political solution to the war, comes a week after the regime recaptured second city Aleppo in a major blow to rebel forces.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who announced the deal, said Damascus and the &quot;main forces of the armed opposition&quot; had inked a truce and a document expressing a readiness to start peace talks.

&quot;Several hours ago, the event occurred that we have not only been waiting for but been working so much to hasten,&quot; Putin said in a meeting with his defence and foreign ministers.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the agreement as a &quot;historic opportunity&quot; to end the Syrian conflict, which has killed more than 310,000 people and forced millions from their homes.

Syria&#39;s army said it would halt all military operations from midnight (2200 GMT on Thursday) and a leading opposition body, the National Coalition, voiced its support for the truce.

Putin said he would also reduce Moscow&#39;s military contingent in Syria that has been flying a bombing campaign in support of President Bashar al-Assad since last year.

The Kremlin strongman, however, said Russia would continue to fight &quot;terrorism&quot; in Syria and maintain its support for the regime.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said seven opposition groups, including the powerful Ahrar al-Sham, had signed the deal and those who failed to adhere would be considered &quot;terrorists&quot;.

Erdogan indicated Turkey would press on with its four-month incursion into Syria against Islamic State group (IS) jihadists and Kurdish militia.

Astana peace talks

Syria&#39;s army said the deal did not include IS and the former Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front, now rebranded the Fateh al-Sham Front.

That could cause complications in areas like Idlib in northwestern Syria, where Fateh al-Sham is allied with rebel groups that have signed on to the deal.

Syria&#39;s political opposition and rebels confirmed their backing for the truce, saying it applied to all parts of the country.

&quot;The agreement is for all of Syria and contains no exceptions or preconditions,&quot; said Osama Abou Zeid, a legal adviser to rebel groups fighting under the Free Syrian Army banner.

The agreement comes after Turkey and Russia brokered a deal to allow the evacuation of tens of thousands of civilians and rebel fighters from Aleppo.

Moscow and Ankara are now pushing for peace talks between Damascus and the rebels to start soon in Kazakhstan&#39;s capital Astana.

&quot;Now we need to do everything for these agreements to come into force, for them to work, so that the negotiating teams that have been or are being formed promptly and as soon as possible arrive in Astana,&quot; Putin said.

UN peace envoy Staffan de Mistura said he hoped the agreement would &quot;pave the way for productive talks&quot; in Kazakhstan, but also reiterated he wants negotiations mediated by his office to continue early next year.

22 killed in rebel areas

Russia and Turkey have both said the peace talks they will supervise are meant to supplement UN-backed peace efforts, rather than replace them entirely.&nbsp;

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia, Turkey and Iran were arranging for the talks and pressing for other key international players to get involved.

Lavrov said Moscow would invite Egypt and try to attract other regional powers such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq and Jordan.

He added Moscow would seek to involve US President-elect Donald Trump&#39;s administration once he takes office in less than a month, but the process does not appear to involve outgoing President Barack Obama&#39;s administration.

The US State Department called the ceasefire deal a &quot;positive development&quot; and said it hoped it would lead to fresh negotiations on Syria&#39;s political future.

Abou Zeid confirmed the truce deal was intended to pave the way for new talks in Astana, with the High Negotiations Committee that has represented the opposition at previous negotiations expected to participate.

Turkey has long backed Syria&#39;s opposition, and its relations with Russia soured last year after Ankara shot down a Russian warplane.

But the two countries have worked closely of late on Syria, and Turkey was conspicuously quiet as Assad&#39;s forces retook Aleppo.

In the hours before the ceasefire was to take effect, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, reported at least 22 civilians, including 10 children, were killed in air strikes and artillery fire on rebel-held territory near Damascus.

(AFP)

The deal brokered by Russia and Turkey, which back opposing sides in the conflict, takes effect at midnight

Syria's army and key ally Russia on Thursday announced a nationwide ceasefire to take effect at midnight, in a potential major breakthrough after nearly six years of civil war. The deal was brokered by Russia and Turkey, which back opposing sides in the conflict, but does not involve Washington, which has negotiated previous ceasefires with Moscow. The agreement, hailed by Syria's government as a "real opportunity" to find a political solution to the war, comes a week after the regime recaptured second city Aleppo in a major blow to rebel forces. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who announced the deal, said Damascus and the "main forces of the armed opposition" had inked a truce and a document expressing a readiness to start peace talks. "Several hours ago, the event occurred that we have not only been waiting for but been working so much to hasten," Putin said in a meeting with his defence and foreign ministers. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the agreement as a "historic opportunity" to end the Syrian conflict, which has killed more than 310,000 people and forced millions from their homes. Syria's army said it would halt all military operations from midnight (2200 GMT on Thursday) and a leading opposition body, the National Coalition, voiced its support for the truce. Putin said he would also reduce Moscow's military contingent in Syria that has been flying a bombing campaign in support of President Bashar al-Assad since last year. The Kremlin strongman, however, said Russia would continue to fight "terrorism" in Syria and maintain its support for the regime. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said seven opposition groups, including the powerful Ahrar al-Sham, had signed the deal and those who failed to adhere would be considered "terrorists". Erdogan indicated Turkey would press on with its four-month incursion into Syria against Islamic State group (IS) jihadists and Kurdish militia. Astana peace talks Syria's army said the deal did not include IS and the former Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front, now rebranded the Fateh al-Sham Front. That could cause complications in areas like Idlib in northwestern Syria, where Fateh al-Sham is allied with rebel groups that have signed on to the deal. Syria's political opposition and rebels confirmed their backing for the truce, saying it applied to all parts of the country. "The agreement is for all of Syria and contains no exceptions or preconditions," said Osama Abou Zeid, a legal adviser to rebel groups fighting under the Free Syrian Army banner. The agreement comes after Turkey and Russia brokered a deal to allow the evacuation of tens of thousands of civilians and rebel fighters from Aleppo. Moscow and Ankara are now pushing for peace talks between Damascus and the rebels to start soon in Kazakhstan's capital Astana. "Now we need to do everything for these agreements to come into force, for them to work, so that the negotiating teams that have been or are being formed promptly and as soon as possible arrive in Astana," Putin said. UN peace envoy Staffan de Mistura said he hoped the agreement would "pave the way for productive talks" in Kazakhstan, but also reiterated he wants negotiations mediated by his office to continue early next year. 22 killed in rebel areas Russia and Turkey have both said the peace talks they will supervise are meant to supplement UN-backed peace efforts, rather than replace them entirely. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia, Turkey and Iran were arranging for the talks and pressing for other key international players to get involved. Lavrov said Moscow would invite Egypt and try to attract other regional powers such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq and Jordan. He added Moscow would seek to involve US President-elect Donald Trump's administration once he takes office in less than a month, but the process does not appear to involve outgoing President Barack Obama's administration. The US State Department called the ceasefire deal a "positive development" and said it hoped it would lead to fresh negotiations on Syria's political future. Abou Zeid confirmed the truce deal was intended to pave the way for new talks in Astana, with the High Negotiations Committee that has represented the opposition at previous negotiations expected to participate. Turkey has long backed Syria's opposition, and its relations with Russia soured last year after Ankara shot down a Russian warplane. But the two countries have worked closely of late on Syria, and Turkey was conspicuously quiet as Assad's forces retook Aleppo. In the hours before the ceasefire was to take effect, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, reported at least 22 civilians, including 10 children, were killed in air strikes and artillery fire on rebel-held territory near Damascus. (AFP)

Syria regime, rebels agree nationwide ceasefire

Christians in Aleppo celebrated under a giant Christmas tree lit up for the first time in five years, hailing what many described as the return of peace to a city that came back under full government control last week.

The fall of rebel-held east Aleppo was the biggest victory of Syria&#39;s nearly six-year-old civil war for supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and many in pro-government parts of the city have been jubilant.

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<h5>The festive atmosphere is great. It&#39;s a new birth for Jesus Christ and a new birth for the city of Aleppo&#39;</h5>
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However, the rebel defeat has also brought severe hardship on civilians who fled from insurgent-held areas, thousands of whom have been forced to camp in wilderness under the snow. Aid groups say many are in peril and children have died from exposure to severe winter weather.

In the war-ravaged St&nbsp;Elias Cathedral located on what was long the frontline in Aleppo&#39;s historic Old City, priests prayed for peace at the first Christmas Eve Mass for five years, attended by dozens of worshippers, including some Russian officers.

&quot;The festive atmosphere is great. It&#39;s a new birth for Jesus Christ and a new birth for the city of Aleppo,&quot; said George Bakhash, a Christian community leader.

He said the numbers attending mass across the city had surged, now that worshippers no longer feared missiles from rebel-held areas.

Many Syrian Christians supported the government in the civil war, viewing Assad, a member of a Shi&#39;ite-derived minority sect, as a protector against rebel fighters mainly drawn from Syria&#39;s Sunni Muslim majority.

In the comparatively undamaged parts of the city that had long been held by the government, restaurants were thronged by Christians late into the night.

Hundreds of people danced and celebrated in the Azizya neighbourhood, where the public Christmas tree had gone unlit since rebels took the eastern half of the city in 2012. Giant posters depicted Assad and his Christian ally, Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In live footage shown on state television, a woman identified as the mother of slain Syrian soldier carried her son&#39;s picture alongside an image of the Virgin Mary.

&quot;I am sure his soul is in peace now because Aleppo has been liberated,&quot; she said.

Although some Christians stayed on the sidelines of the civil war, many saw the rise of Islamic State and other Sunni Muslim insurgent groups as a threat to the very existence of their communities, some as old as the bible. The Christian population of Aleppo has shrunk since the start of the conflict to around 50,000 from 250,000 according to Bakhash.

Fighting in rural areas

Outside the city, rebels still hold at least 40 per cent of Aleppo province, and rebels have still fired sporadic shells from the fringes of the city to the south.

Russian jets resumed heavy strikes on rebel-held rural areas of Aleppo province after a pause during a ceasefire to complete the evacuation of rebels from the city.

A bombing raid in the rebel-held town of Atareb in western Aleppo countryside killed at least seven refugees who had fled from the city under the evacuation deal, a local resident said.

Some people who fled east Aleppo earlier in the war have begun returning to inspect homes in neighbourhoods reduced to rubble by years of aerial bombing, which intensified last year when Russia joined the war.

The army and pro-government militias are still combing parts of east Aleppo. Rebels accuse the pro-government forces of carrying out summary executions of scores of youths who stayed behind, and say looting has been rampant. The government denies its forces have executed prisoners or looted homes.

Thousands of people who were bussed out of Aleppo&#39;s rebel-held eastern districts as they fell to government forces have ended up in makeshift camps exposed to severe winter weather.

Many left everything behind as they fled under the evacuation deal, under which only mostly elderly people stayed.

&quot;We brought a few belongings just to wear.. We lost everything,&quot; Omar Sarout, 55, told Reuters by internet message from a makeshift camp for more than 700 people, mostly women and children, run by Turkish and Gulf charities.

Yousef Hanbali, a carpenter who fled Aleppo for a makeshift camp in Idlib province, said his family hoped to reach Turkey to find work. &quot;We need money. We left without anything,&quot; he said.

(Reuters)

Christmas eve mass was held in the war-ravaged St Elias Cathedral, in Aleppo's historic Old City, for the first time in 5 years

Christians in Aleppo celebrated under a giant Christmas tree lit up for the first time in five years, hailing what many described as the return of peace to a city that came back under full government control last week. The fall of rebel-held east Aleppo was the biggest victory of Syria's nearly six-year-old civil war for supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and many in pro-government parts of the city have been jubilant. The festive atmosphere is great. It's a new birth for Jesus Christ and a new birth for the city of Aleppo' × However, the rebel defeat has also brought severe hardship on civilians who fled from insurgent-held areas, thousands of whom have been forced to camp in wilderness under the snow. Aid groups say many are in peril and children have died from exposure to severe winter weather. In the war-ravaged St Elias Cathedral located on what was long the frontline in Aleppo's historic Old City, priests prayed for peace at the first Christmas Eve Mass for five years, attended by dozens of worshippers, including some Russian officers. "The festive atmosphere is great. It's a new birth for Jesus Christ and a new birth for the city of Aleppo," said George Bakhash, a Christian community leader. He said the numbers attending mass across the city had surged, now that worshippers no longer feared missiles from rebel-held areas. Many Syrian Christians supported the government in the civil war, viewing Assad, a member of a Shi'ite-derived minority sect, as a protector against rebel fighters mainly drawn from Syria's Sunni Muslim majority. In the comparatively undamaged parts of the city that had long been held by the government, restaurants were thronged by Christians late into the night. Hundreds of people danced and celebrated in the Azizya neighbourhood, where the public Christmas tree had gone unlit since rebels took the eastern half of the city in 2012. Giant posters depicted Assad and his Christian ally, Russian President Vladimir Putin. In live footage shown on state television, a woman identified as the mother of slain Syrian soldier carried her son's picture alongside an image of the Virgin Mary. "I am sure his soul is in peace now because Aleppo has been liberated," she said. Although some Christians stayed on the sidelines of the civil war, many saw the rise of Islamic State and other Sunni Muslim insurgent groups as a threat to the very existence of their communities, some as old as the bible. The Christian population of Aleppo has shrunk since the start of the conflict to around 50,000 from 250,000 according to Bakhash. Fighting in rural areas Outside the city, rebels still hold at least 40 per cent of Aleppo province, and rebels have still fired sporadic shells from the fringes of the city to the south. Russian jets resumed heavy strikes on rebel-held rural areas of Aleppo province after a pause during a ceasefire to complete the evacuation of rebels from the city. A bombing raid in the rebel-held town of Atareb in western Aleppo countryside killed at least seven refugees who had fled from the city under the evacuation deal, a local resident said. Some people who fled east Aleppo earlier in the war have begun returning to inspect homes in neighbourhoods reduced to rubble by years of aerial bombing, which intensified last year when Russia joined the war. The army and pro-government militias are still combing parts of east Aleppo. Rebels accuse the pro-government forces of carrying out summary executions of scores of youths who stayed behind, and say looting has been rampant. The government denies its forces have executed prisoners or looted homes. Thousands of people who were bussed out of Aleppo's rebel-held eastern districts as they fell to government forces have ended up in makeshift camps exposed to severe winter weather. Many left everything behind as they fled under the evacuation deal, under which only mostly elderly people stayed. "We brought a few belongings just to wear.. We lost everything," Omar Sarout, 55, told Reuters by internet message from a makeshift camp for more than 700 people, mostly women and children, run by Turkish and Gulf charities. Yousef Hanbali, a carpenter who fled Aleppo for a makeshift camp in Idlib province, said his family hoped to reach Turkey to find work. "We need money. We left without anything," he said. (Reuters)

Aleppo: After 5 years of war, a Christmas celebration

Syrian rebels shelled Aleppo and air strikes resumed around the city on Friday as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his allies said the insurgents&#39; withdrawal from the city could pave the way towards a political solution for the country.

A day after the last rebels left their remaining pocket of territory in the city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights - a war monitor based in Britain - said about 10 shells fell in its southwestern al-Hamdaniya district.

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The Observatory said six people, including two children, were killed. State television said at least three people died.

Insurgents seeking to oust Assad have shelled government-controlled areas of Aleppo throughout the conflict, which began in 2011. The destruction in those parts of the city has been far less than in eastern districts rebels held until this month.

Air strikes resumed in rebel-held areas of the countryside near Aleppo on Friday for the first time since the end of the evacuation operation.

Strikes hit to the west, south-west and south of the city, areas which had not been hit for at least a week. The Britain-based Observatory had no information on casualties yet.

After months of bombardment and a final few weeks of intense air strikes and Syrian army advances on the besieged, rebel-held part of Aleppo, a local ceasefire was reached on Dec. 15 which allowed thousand of civilians and then fighters to leave.

The last left the city late on Thursday for countryside immediately to the west. The International Committee of the Red Cross said about 35,000 people, mostly civilians, had departed.

Many of those who left are living as refugees in the areas to the west and south of Aleppo, including in Idlib province where bulldozers were used to clear heavy snowfall on Friday morning, the opposition Orient television showed.

On Friday, the army and its allies, including Lebanese group Hezbollah, searched districts abandoned by the rebels, to clear them of mines and other dangers, the Observatory reported.

State television showed empty streets lined with apartment blocks smashed by air strikes in the al-Ansari district.

Damascus water cut

In the capital Damascus, the water authority has been forced to cut supplies coming into the Syrian capital for a few days and use reserves instead after rebels polluted the water with diesel, it said on Friday.

The al-Fija spring which supplies Damascus with water is in the rebel-held Wadi Barada valley north-west of the capital in a mountainous area near the Lebanese border.

The government controls much of the surrounding territory and on Friday carried out aerial attacks and shelled the rebel-held area, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

A military news outlet run by Hezbollah said the rebels in the valley had refused to leave the area and the Syrian Arab Army began an offensive against them on Friday morning.

Through a series of so-called settlement agreements and army offensives, the Syrian government, backed by Russian air power and Iran-backed militias, has been steadily suppressing armed opposition around the capital.

Peace talks?

During the long struggle to re-take Aleppo, Assad&#39;s forces were supported by heavy Russian air strikes, Iran-backed militias and fighters from Iran-backed Shi&#39;ite Hezbollah.

On Friday, Assad thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for having been Syria&#39;s main partner in the battle&nbsp;and said the city&#39;s fall had opened the door to a political process.

Putin said Russia, Iran, Turkey and Assad had agreed the Kazakh capital of Astana should be the venue for new peace negotiations, and Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said the defeat of the rebels in the city could pave the way to a political solution.

Turkey backs rebels fighting Assad and Islamic State.

United Nations-backed peace talks in Geneva broke down earlier this year as violence escalated, particularly around Aleppo.

(Reuters)

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said six people, including two children, were killed

Syrian rebels shelled Aleppo and air strikes resumed around the city on Friday as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his allies said the insurgents' withdrawal from the city could pave the way towards a political solution for the country. A day after the last rebels left their remaining pocket of territory in the city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights - a war monitor based in Britain - said about 10 shells fell in its southwestern al-Hamdaniya district. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights - a war monitor based in Britain - said about 10 shells fell in east Aleppo's al-Hamdaniya district × The Observatory said six people, including two children, were killed. State television said at least three people died. Insurgents seeking to oust Assad have shelled government-controlled areas of Aleppo throughout the conflict, which began in 2011. The destruction in those parts of the city has been far less than in eastern districts rebels held until this month. Air strikes resumed in rebel-held areas of the countryside near Aleppo on Friday for the first time since the end of the evacuation operation. Strikes hit to the west, south-west and south of the city, areas which had not been hit for at least a week. The Britain-based Observatory had no information on casualties yet. After months of bombardment and a final few weeks of intense air strikes and Syrian army advances on the besieged, rebel-held part of Aleppo, a local ceasefire was reached on Dec. 15 which allowed thousand of civilians and then fighters to leave. The last left the city late on Thursday for countryside immediately to the west. The International Committee of the Red Cross said about 35,000 people, mostly civilians, had departed. Many of those who left are living as refugees in the areas to the west and south of Aleppo, including in Idlib province where bulldozers were used to clear heavy snowfall on Friday morning, the opposition Orient television showed. On Friday, the army and its allies, including Lebanese group Hezbollah, searched districts abandoned by the rebels, to clear them of mines and other dangers, the Observatory reported. State television showed empty streets lined with apartment blocks smashed by air strikes in the al-Ansari district. Damascus water cut In the capital Damascus, the water authority has been forced to cut supplies coming into the Syrian capital for a few days and use reserves instead after rebels polluted the water with diesel, it said on Friday. The al-Fija spring which supplies Damascus with water is in the rebel-held Wadi Barada valley north-west of the capital in a mountainous area near the Lebanese border. The government controls much of the surrounding territory and on Friday carried out aerial attacks and shelled the rebel-held area, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. A military news outlet run by Hezbollah said the rebels in the valley had refused to leave the area and the Syrian Arab Army began an offensive against them on Friday morning. Through a series of so-called settlement agreements and army offensives, the Syrian government, backed by Russian air power and Iran-backed militias, has been steadily suppressing armed opposition around the capital. Peace talks? During the long struggle to re-take Aleppo, Assad's forces were supported by heavy Russian air strikes, Iran-backed militias and fighters from Iran-backed Shi'ite Hezbollah. On Friday, Assad thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for having been Syria's main partner in the battle and said the city's fall had opened the door to a political process. Putin said Russia, Iran, Turkey and Assad had agreed the Kazakh capital of Astana should be the venue for new peace negotiations, and Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said the defeat of the rebels in the city could pave the way to a political solution. Turkey backs rebels fighting Assad and Islamic State. United Nations-backed peace talks in Geneva broke down earlier this year as violence escalated, particularly around Aleppo. (Reuters)

Syria rebels shell Aleppo, air strikes resume

Some 350 people were able to leave despite evacuations officially suspended until further notice, a medical official said.

Ahmad al-Dbis, who heads a team of doctors coordinating evacuations to Khan al-Assal told AFP, &quot;Five buses carrying the evacuees arrived from besieged parts of east Aleppo.&quot;&nbsp;

&quot;They were in a terrible state, Dbis told AFP.

&quot;They hadn&#39;t eaten, they had nothing to drink, the children had caught colds, they were not even able to go to the toilet,&quot; he added.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that 350 people were able to be evacuated after Russia and Turkey urged the Syrian regime to allow the buses to pass its final control point.

From Khan al-Assal people will be able to travel to Idlib and other parts of Aleppo.

The evacuation process had been postponed after buses were attacked and torched by armed men.

The buses were meant for&nbsp;two Shiite villages, Fuaa and Kafraya. &nbsp;

There was a dispute over how many people would be evacuated from the two villages.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said security guarantee was needed before evacuation process resumed, after one bus driver was killed in the attack.

The Rights monitor also said the buses will not leave until the people of Fuaa and Kafraya were&nbsp;able to leave.

Before the suspension, buses had arrived in Aleppo under&nbsp;Red Crescent and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) &nbsp;&quot;to bring the remaining terrorists and their families out,&quot; state news agency SANA said, referring to the rebels.

Some&nbsp;100 buses would take people out, SANA had reported.&nbsp;

Under the terms of deal signed between the Syrian government and the rebels, the rebels and their families along with civilians will be allowed to leave for government-held areas.&nbsp;

Evacuations will also take place&nbsp;from Zabadani and Madaya, two regime-besieged rebel towns in Damascus province, as part of the deal, a rebel representative had confirmed.

Before evacuation operations were halted around 8,500 people, including some 3,000 rebels, left for rebel-held territory elsewhere in the north, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from AFP)

 
&nbsp;

The evacuations have been stopped until further notice after gunmen torched buses sent for people from two Shitte villages, Fuaa and Kafraya

Some 350 people were able to leave despite evacuations officially suspended until further notice, a medical official said. Ahmad al-Dbis, who heads a team of doctors coordinating evacuations to Khan al-Assal told AFP, "Five buses carrying the evacuees arrived from besieged parts of east Aleppo." "They were in a terrible state, Dbis told AFP. "They hadn't eaten, they had nothing to drink, the children had caught colds, they were not even able to go to the toilet," he added. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that 350 people were able to be evacuated after Russia and Turkey urged the Syrian regime to allow the buses to pass its final control point. From Khan al-Assal people will be able to travel to Idlib and other parts of Aleppo. The evacuation process had been postponed after buses were attacked and torched by armed men. The buses were meant for two Shiite villages, Fuaa and Kafraya. There was a dispute over how many people would be evacuated from the two villages. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said security guarantee was needed before evacuation process resumed, after one bus driver was killed in the attack. The Rights monitor also said the buses will not leave until the people of Fuaa and Kafraya were able to leave. Before the suspension, buses had arrived in Aleppo under Red Crescent and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) "to bring the remaining terrorists and their families out," state news agency SANA said, referring to the rebels. Some 100 buses would take people out, SANA had reported. Under the terms of deal signed between the Syrian government and the rebels, the rebels and their families along with civilians will be allowed to leave for government-held areas. Evacuations will also take place from Zabadani and Madaya, two regime-besieged rebel towns in Damascus province, as part of the deal, a rebel representative had confirmed. Before evacuation operations were halted around 8,500 people, including some 3,000 rebels, left for rebel-held territory elsewhere in the north, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Aleppo: 350 people manage to leave despite postponed evacuations

Civilians and rebel fighters were to start evacuating from Syria&#39;s Aleppo Wednesday under a deal that would end years of opposition resistance in the city.

The evacuations which were expected to begin at 0300 GMT, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor, had yet to commence more than half an hour after the time had passed, an AFP correspondent in the city said.

About 20 green government buses were gathered at the edges of the divided Salaheddin district. Some entered briefly Tuesday night but returned empty and parked on the outskirts again, the journalist said.

Rebel officials, Russia and Turkey confirmed the agreement which, if implemented, would mark a major victory for President Bashar al-Assad over opposition forces who rose up against him in 2011.

The agreement came amid mounting global outrage over reports of atrocities, including dozens of summary executions, as forces loyal to Assad closed in on the last pocket of rebel territory in Aleppo.

Officials from several rebel groups told AFP there was a deal to allow civilians and fighters to leave Aleppo for opposition-held territory to the west of the city.

&quot;An agreement has been reached,&quot; said Yasser al-Youssef from the political office of the key Nureddin al-Zinki rebel group, adding it had been &quot;sponsored&quot; by Russia and Turkey.

&quot;The first stage will be the evacuation of civilians and wounded, within hours, and afterwards fighters will leave with their light weapons.&quot;

&nbsp;US calls for observers&nbsp; 
Washington said it had not been consulted but would welcome any arrangement that brought safety to the people of Aleppo.

&quot;It matters a lot less to us who or how a ceasefire is arranged or reached, and much more that one is arranged and reached,&quot; state department spokesman John Kirby said.

&quot;Even if it is the end of the siege in Aleppo, it is not the end of the war in Syria.&quot;

As the UN Security Council met in an emergency session to discuss Aleppo, Russian envoy Vitaly Churkin confirmed there was an agreement for the rebels to leave the city.

US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said Washington wanted international observers to oversee the evacuation, raising concern for &quot;people who wish to leave but who, justifiably, fear that if they try they will be shot in the street or carted off to one of Assad&#39;s gulags.&quot;

Turkey&#39;s foreign ministry said under the agreement civilians would first evacuate, followed by a withdrawal of rebel groups.

Deputy prime minister Mehmet Simsek&nbsp;said on Twitter that Turkey would &quot;set up a tent city to accommodate up to 80,000 Syrian refugees fleeing Aleppo&quot;.

An AFP correspondent in west Aleppo said there had been no sounds of fighting or bombardment since around 3:00 pm (1300 GMT) Tuesday and the Observatory also said it was quiet.

The United Nations and aid agencies had been pleading for an agreement to allow for the evacuation of thousands of civilians trapped in rebel territory.

After weeks of heavy fighting, forces loyal to Assad were on the verge of taking all of the city, dealing the biggest blow to Syria&#39;s rebellion in more than five years of civil war.

&nbsp;Scenes of carnage&nbsp; 
The United Nations said it had received credible reports of at least 82 civilians, including 11 women and 13 children, being executed by pro-government forces in Aleppo in recent days.

In Geneva, UN rights office spokesman Rupert Colville said pro-government fighters had in some cases entered homes and killed those inside, and in others &quot;caught and killed on the spot&quot; fleeing civilians.

The UN was &quot;filled with the deepest foreboding for those who remain in this last hellish corner of opposition-held eastern Aleppo,&quot; he said.

Witnesses in Aleppo described scenes of carnage in rebel areas, with bodies lying amid the rubble of city streets, as desperate residents sat on pavements with nowhere to shelter.

Syria&#39;s army has taken more than 90 per cent of the territory once held by rebels in east Aleppo, after launching an all-out offensive last month to seize control of the entire city.

Aleppo, a cultural and economic hub in northern Syria second only to Damascus in importance, had been split between a rebel-controlled east and government-held west since 2012.

&nbsp;&#39;Last chance&#39;&nbsp; 
It was unclear how many civilians remained in rebel territory, after an estimated 130,000 fled to other parts of Aleppo during the government advance.

Jan Egeland, head of the UN-backed humanitarian taskforce for Syria, told AFP that thousands of civilians were in need of evacuation and safe passage, including hundreds of wounded.

&quot;We need a pause in the fighting but we also need to get the people inside to help organise an evacuation,&quot; he said.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said there was only a &quot;last chance to save lives&quot; in Aleppo.

The government assault has been backed by heavy artillery fire and air strikes, with at least 463 civilians, including 62 children, killed in east Aleppo since mid-November, according to the Observatory.

Another 130 people including 40 children have been killed in western districts by rebel rocket fire, the monitoring group says.

More than 310,000 people have been killed since the Syrian conflict began in March 2011, and over half the population has been displaced, with millions becoming refugees.

(AFP) 
&nbsp;

The agreement came amid mounting global outrage over reports of atrocities, including dozens of summary executions

Civilians and rebel fighters were to start evacuating from Syria's Aleppo Wednesday under a deal that would end years of opposition resistance in the city. The evacuations which were expected to begin at 0300 GMT, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor, had yet to commence more than half an hour after the time had passed, an AFP correspondent in the city said. About 20 green government buses were gathered at the edges of the divided Salaheddin district. Some entered briefly Tuesday night but returned empty and parked on the outskirts again, the journalist said. Rebel officials, Russia and Turkey confirmed the agreement which, if implemented, would mark a major victory for President Bashar al-Assad over opposition forces who rose up against him in 2011. The agreement came amid mounting global outrage over reports of atrocities, including dozens of summary executions, as forces loyal to Assad closed in on the last pocket of rebel territory in Aleppo. Officials from several rebel groups told AFP there was a deal to allow civilians and fighters to leave Aleppo for opposition-held territory to the west of the city. "An agreement has been reached," said Yasser al-Youssef from the political office of the key Nureddin al-Zinki rebel group, adding it had been "sponsored" by Russia and Turkey. "The first stage will be the evacuation of civilians and wounded, within hours, and afterwards fighters will leave with their light weapons." US calls for observers Washington said it had not been consulted but would welcome any arrangement that brought safety to the people of Aleppo. "It matters a lot less to us who or how a ceasefire is arranged or reached, and much more that one is arranged and reached," state department spokesman John Kirby said. "Even if it is the end of the siege in Aleppo, it is not the end of the war in Syria." As the UN Security Council met in an emergency session to discuss Aleppo, Russian envoy Vitaly Churkin confirmed there was an agreement for the rebels to leave the city. US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said Washington wanted international observers to oversee the evacuation, raising concern for "people who wish to leave but who, justifiably, fear that if they try they will be shot in the street or carted off to one of Assad's gulags." Turkey's foreign ministry said under the agreement civilians would first evacuate, followed by a withdrawal of rebel groups. Deputy prime minister Mehmet Simsek said on Twitter that Turkey would "set up a tent city to accommodate up to 80,000 Syrian refugees fleeing Aleppo". An AFP correspondent in west Aleppo said there had been no sounds of fighting or bombardment since around 3:00 pm (1300 GMT) Tuesday and the Observatory also said it was quiet. The United Nations and aid agencies had been pleading for an agreement to allow for the evacuation of thousands of civilians trapped in rebel territory. After weeks of heavy fighting, forces loyal to Assad were on the verge of taking all of the city, dealing the biggest blow to Syria's rebellion in more than five years of civil war. Scenes of carnage The United Nations said it had received credible reports of at least 82 civilians, including 11 women and 13 children, being executed by pro-government forces in Aleppo in recent days. In Geneva, UN rights office spokesman Rupert Colville said pro-government fighters had in some cases entered homes and killed those inside, and in others "caught and killed on the spot" fleeing civilians. The UN was "filled with the deepest foreboding for those who remain in this last hellish corner of opposition-held eastern Aleppo," he said. Witnesses in Aleppo described scenes of carnage in rebel areas, with bodies lying amid the rubble of city streets, as desperate residents sat on pavements with nowhere to shelter. Syria's army has taken more than 90 per cent of the territory once held by rebels in east Aleppo, after launching an all-out offensive last month to seize control of the entire city. Aleppo, a cultural and economic hub in northern Syria second only to Damascus in importance, had been split between a rebel-controlled east and government-held west since 2012. 'Last chance' It was unclear how many civilians remained in rebel territory, after an estimated 130,000 fled to other parts of Aleppo during the government advance. Jan Egeland, head of the UN-backed humanitarian taskforce for Syria, told AFP that thousands of civilians were in need of evacuation and safe passage, including hundreds of wounded. "We need a pause in the fighting but we also need to get the people inside to help organise an evacuation," he said. The International Committee of the Red Cross said there was only a "last chance to save lives" in Aleppo. The government assault has been backed by heavy artillery fire and air strikes, with at least 463 civilians, including 62 children, killed in east Aleppo since mid-November, according to the Observatory. Another 130 people including 40 children have been killed in western districts by rebel rocket fire, the monitoring group says. More than 310,000 people have been killed since the Syrian conflict began in March 2011, and over half the population has been displaced, with millions becoming refugees. (AFP)

Russia, Turkey 'sponsor' deal allowing Aleppo residents to leave

The Syrian government offensive to recapture rebel-held parts of Aleppo sparked international alarm on Tuesday, with the UN saying nearly 16,000 people had fled the assault and more could follow.

France called for an immediate UN Security Council session on the fighting, which has seen the army capture a third of opposition-controlled east Aleppo in recent days.

The fighting has prompted an exodus of terrified civilians, many fleeing empty-handed into remaining rebel-held territory, or crossing into government-controlled western Aleppo or Kurdish districts.

UN humanitarian chief Stephen O&#39;Brien said the situation was &quot;alarming and chilling&quot;.

&quot;Up to 16,000 people have been displaced, many into uncertain and precarious situations,&quot; he said.

The figure excludes civilians who have escaped to remaining rebel-held territory, and O&#39;Brien warned it was &quot;likely that thousands more will have no choice but to flee should fighting continue.&quot;

East Aleppo has been under government siege for more than four months, with international aid stocks exhausted and food supplies running low.

World Food Programme spokeswoman Bettina Luescher said civilians were enduring a &quot;slow motion descent into hell.&quot;

Government forces have advanced swiftly in their two-week operation, capturing all of the city&#39;s northeast in a major blow to the opposition.

Sleeping in streets

The loss of their east Aleppo stronghold would be the worst defeat for rebels since Syria&#39;s conflict erupted more than five years ago.

The opposition has steadily lost territory in recent months to government forces bolstered by a Russian military intervention that began in September 2015.

Moscow says it is not involved in the Aleppo offensive, but a Russian defence ministry spokesman said Syrian government forces had seized &quot;nearly half the territory occupied by rebels in east Aleppo in recent years&quot;.

&quot;The careful and long-planned operations by the Syrian army have radically changed the situation over the past 24 hours,&quot; said General Igor Konashenkov.

Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed his government to set up mobile field hospitals around Aleppo, the Kremlin said.

A hospital with a capacity of up to 250 patients a day will be sent to the Aleppo region on Wednesday morning, according to Russian news agencies.

More than 250 civilians have been killed in the government&#39;s assault on east Aleppo since November 15, including nearly 30 children, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The monitor said at least 10 civilians were killed in a strike in the Bab al-Nayrab district on Tuesday and reported ongoing clashes in the Shaar and Tariq al-Bab neighbourhoods.

The Observatory said the civilian exodus continued Tuesday from neighbourhoods now on the front line.

An AFP correspondent said families were forced to sleep in the streets or in unfurnished apartments left empty by fleeing residents.

Rights group Amnesty International urged Syrian authorities to protect civilians in recaptured areas.

&quot;Given the Syrian government&#39;s long and dark history of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances on a mass scale, it is even more crucial that civilians are protected in newly captured areas of Aleppo city,&quot; said Samah Hadid, Amnesty&#39;s deputy director for campaigns in Beirut.

Children &#39;sitting targets&#39;

And Save the Children warned the assault was separating families and leaving thousands, including children, homeless and at risk.

&quot;With so many people trapped in an ever-shrinking space, children can be little more than sitting targets for bombs,&quot; said Syria director Sonia Khush.

Backers of Syria&#39;s moderate opposition have expressed concern about the army&#39;s advances, but have shown little willingness to intervene.

France&#39;s Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault called Tuesday for an &quot;immediate&quot; UN Security Council meeting to discuss the &quot;humanitarian disaster&quot; in Aleppo.

&quot;More than ever, there is an urgent need for a cessation of hostilities and unhindered access to humanitarian assistance,&quot; he said.

On the ground, residents expressed despair and uncertainty for the future, after months of food shortages and heavy bombardment.

Syria&#39;s conflict has killed more than 300,000 people and drawn in world powers including a US-led air coalition fighting the Islamic State group.

After a six-week probe, the Pentagon on Tuesday said intelligence errors resulted in a coalition strike that reportedly killed about 90 Syrian government forces in eastern Deir Ezzor in September.

Also on Tuesday, at least 1,200 including rebels and their relatives were evacuated from a rebel stronghold near Damascus to the northwest province of Idlib, the Observatory and aid workers said.

Local leaders in Khan al-Shih, southwest of the capital, struck a deal with Damascus that would see their town brought back under regime control in exchange for an end to the government siege.&nbsp;

(AFP)

Many terrified civilians are fleeing empty-handed into remaining rebel-held territory or crossing into govt-controlled districts

The Syrian government offensive to recapture rebel-held parts of Aleppo sparked international alarm on Tuesday, with the UN saying nearly 16,000 people had fled the assault and more could follow. France called for an immediate UN Security Council session on the fighting, which has seen the army capture a third of opposition-controlled east Aleppo in recent days. The fighting has prompted an exodus of terrified civilians, many fleeing empty-handed into remaining rebel-held territory, or crossing into government-controlled western Aleppo or Kurdish districts. UN humanitarian chief Stephen O'Brien said the situation was "alarming and chilling". "Up to 16,000 people have been displaced, many into uncertain and precarious situations," he said. The figure excludes civilians who have escaped to remaining rebel-held territory, and O'Brien warned it was "likely that thousands more will have no choice but to flee should fighting continue." East Aleppo has been under government siege for more than four months, with international aid stocks exhausted and food supplies running low. World Food Programme spokeswoman Bettina Luescher said civilians were enduring a "slow motion descent into hell." Government forces have advanced swiftly in their two-week operation, capturing all of the city's northeast in a major blow to the opposition. Sleeping in streets The loss of their east Aleppo stronghold would be the worst defeat for rebels since Syria's conflict erupted more than five years ago. The opposition has steadily lost territory in recent months to government forces bolstered by a Russian military intervention that began in September 2015. Moscow says it is not involved in the Aleppo offensive, but a Russian defence ministry spokesman said Syrian government forces had seized "nearly half the territory occupied by rebels in east Aleppo in recent years". "The careful and long-planned operations by the Syrian army have radically changed the situation over the past 24 hours," said General Igor Konashenkov. Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed his government to set up mobile field hospitals around Aleppo, the Kremlin said. A hospital with a capacity of up to 250 patients a day will be sent to the Aleppo region on Wednesday morning, according to Russian news agencies. More than 250 civilians have been killed in the government's assault on east Aleppo since November 15, including nearly 30 children, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The monitor said at least 10 civilians were killed in a strike in the Bab al-Nayrab district on Tuesday and reported ongoing clashes in the Shaar and Tariq al-Bab neighbourhoods. The Observatory said the civilian exodus continued Tuesday from neighbourhoods now on the front line. An AFP correspondent said families were forced to sleep in the streets or in unfurnished apartments left empty by fleeing residents. Rights group Amnesty International urged Syrian authorities to protect civilians in recaptured areas. "Given the Syrian government's long and dark history of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances on a mass scale, it is even more crucial that civilians are protected in newly captured areas of Aleppo city," said Samah Hadid, Amnesty's deputy director for campaigns in Beirut. Children 'sitting targets' And Save the Children warned the assault was separating families and leaving thousands, including children, homeless and at risk. "With so many people trapped in an ever-shrinking space, children can be little more than sitting targets for bombs," said Syria director Sonia Khush. Backers of Syria's moderate opposition have expressed concern about the army's advances, but have shown little willingness to intervene. France's Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault called Tuesday for an "immediate" UN Security Council meeting to discuss the "humanitarian disaster" in Aleppo. "More than ever, there is an urgent need for a cessation of hostilities and unhindered access to humanitarian assistance," he said. On the ground, residents expressed despair and uncertainty for the future, after months of food shortages and heavy bombardment. Syria's conflict has killed more than 300,000 people and drawn in world powers including a US-led air coalition fighting the Islamic State group. After a six-week probe, the Pentagon on Tuesday said intelligence errors resulted in a coalition strike that reportedly killed about 90 Syrian government forces in eastern Deir Ezzor in September. Also on Tuesday, at least 1,200 including rebels and their relatives were evacuated from a rebel stronghold near Damascus to the northwest province of Idlib, the Observatory and aid workers said. Local leaders in Khan al-Shih, southwest of the capital, struck a deal with Damascus that would see their town brought back under regime control in exchange for an end to the government siege. (AFP)

Aleppo war: UN raises alarm as thousands of civilians flee

Russia pounded Syrian provinces of Homs and Idlib with coordinated air strikes Tuesday targeting the Islamic State and the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, Reuters reported.

Cruise missiles and missiles fired from a mobile land-based missile system inside Syria were complemented by jets fired from Russia&#39;s sole aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, which was used for the first time, defence minister Sergei Shoigu said.

&quot;We carried out exhaustive advance research on all targets,&quot; Shoigu told Reuters. &quot;We are talking about warehouses with ammunition, terrorist training centres ... and factories.&quot;

The defence minister said the strikes in the provinces would continue. He made no mention of the city of Aleppo which has been targeted by Russia-backed Syrian forces for months and where a 72-hour truce between US and Russia recently came to an end.

However, Syrian state television said Syria&#39;s air force carried out strikes on Aleppo on Tuesday.&nbsp;

A civil defence official and a resident told Reuters air strikes had resumed in several districts in the rebel-held eastern part of the city for the first time in weeks.

Russia claims its air force is for now honouring a unilateral moratorium on hitting rebel targets inside Aleppo, Reuters reported.

(WION with inputs from Reuters)

Russia also used its sole aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, for the first time in the combat

Russia pounded Syrian provinces of Homs and Idlib with coordinated air strikes Tuesday targeting the Islamic State and the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, Reuters reported. Cruise missiles and missiles fired from a mobile land-based missile system inside Syria were complemented by jets fired from Russia's sole aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, which was used for the first time, defence minister Sergei Shoigu said. "We carried out exhaustive advance research on all targets," Shoigu told Reuters. "We are talking about warehouses with ammunition, terrorist training centres ... and factories." The defence minister said the strikes in the provinces would continue. He made no mention of the city of Aleppo which has been targeted by Russia-backed Syrian forces for months and where a 72-hour truce between US and Russia recently came to an end. However, Syrian state television said Syria's air force carried out strikes on Aleppo on Tuesday. A civil defence official and a resident told Reuters air strikes had resumed in several districts in the rebel-held eastern part of the city for the first time in weeks. Russia claims its air force is for now honouring a unilateral moratorium on hitting rebel targets inside Aleppo, Reuters reported. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Russia launches missile attacks against IS, Nusra Front in Syria

The Russian defence ministry said on Saturday it would need the UN&nbsp;mission in Syria to formally confirm its ability to deliver aid to eastern Aleppo before Moscow agreed to any new humanitarian pauses in fighting in the shattered Syrian city.

Moscow says previous temporary ceasefires on the ground, called to allow aid deliveries and the evacuation of the wounded and civilians, have come to nothing because rebels have opened fire on anyone trying to come in or out.

Rebels contest that and say it is the Syrian army and its allies who have sabotaged the humanitarian pauses.

&quot;The Russian Defence Ministry will be ready to consider introducing new &#39;humanitarian pauses&#39; at any time as soon as representatives of the UN&nbsp;mission in Syria officially confirm their readiness and possibility to deliver humanitarian aid to eastern Aleppo and to evacuate wounded and sick civilians,&quot; Major-General Igor Konashenkov said in a statement.

The occasional humanitarian pauses on the ground are distinct from a unilateral moratorium on Russian air strikes on rebel targets inside Aleppo, which remains in place for now.

(Reuters)

Moscow says previous temporary ceasefires on the ground have failed because rebels opened fire on anyone trying to come in or out

The Russian defence ministry said on Saturday it would need the UN mission in Syria to formally confirm its ability to deliver aid to eastern Aleppo before Moscow agreed to any new humanitarian pauses in fighting in the shattered Syrian city. Moscow says previous temporary ceasefires on the ground, called to allow aid deliveries and the evacuation of the wounded and civilians, have come to nothing because rebels have opened fire on anyone trying to come in or out. Rebels contest that and say it is the Syrian army and its allies who have sabotaged the humanitarian pauses. "The Russian Defence Ministry will be ready to consider introducing new 'humanitarian pauses' at any time as soon as representatives of the UN mission in Syria officially confirm their readiness and possibility to deliver humanitarian aid to eastern Aleppo and to evacuate wounded and sick civilians," Major-General Igor Konashenkov said in a statement. The occasional humanitarian pauses on the ground are distinct from a unilateral moratorium on Russian air strikes on rebel targets inside Aleppo, which remains in place for now. (Reuters)

Aleppo ceasefire: Russia asks UN for aid guarantee before new pauses

Israel forces attacked a Syrian military position in retaliation to a rocket from Syria that hit the Israeli-held Golan Heights, the army said, news agency AFP reported.

&quot;In response to the projectile which hit Israel earlier today, the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) targeted an artillery position of the Syrian regime in the northern Syrian Golan Heights,&quot; a statement said.

The attack on Golan Heights was likely&nbsp;a stray fire between Syrian government forces and rebels. Isreal, however, considers any fire from its territory a responsibility of the Syrian government.

The rocket caused no casualties, the army said. It was &quot;most likely a result of the internal fighting in Syria&quot;.

Israel has sought to avoid being drawn into the conflict, but has attacked Syrian military targets when fire spills over the demarcation line, AFP said.

In 1967, Israel seized 1,200 square kilometres (460 square miles) of the Golan from Syria in the Six-Day War and later annexed it in a move never recognised by the international community.

(With inputs from AFP)

The rocket that hit the Israeli-held Golan Heights was believed to be stray fire from fighting between the Syrian forces and rebels

Israel forces attacked a Syrian military position in retaliation to a rocket from Syria that hit the Israeli-held Golan Heights, the army said, news agency AFP reported. "In response to the projectile which hit Israel earlier today, the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) targeted an artillery position of the Syrian regime in the northern Syrian Golan Heights," a statement said. The attack on Golan Heights was likely a stray fire between Syrian government forces and rebels. Isreal, however, considers any fire from its territory a responsibility of the Syrian government. The rocket caused no casualties, the army said. It was "most likely a result of the internal fighting in Syria". Israel has sought to avoid being drawn into the conflict, but has attacked Syrian military targets when fire spills over the demarcation line, AFP said. In 1967, Israel seized 1,200 square kilometres (460 square miles) of the Golan from Syria in the Six-Day War and later annexed it in a move never recognised by the international community. (With inputs from AFP)

Israel targets Syrian position after rocket hits Golan

US-backed Syrian rebels said a peace deal will have little meaning till the time bombing in Aleppo is stopped.&nbsp; 
 
Aleppo, Syria&#39;s largest city, has been bombed severely in the last few days by Russia-supported Syrian government.&nbsp; 
 
More than 30 rebel groups, including those backed by Turkey, Gulf states and the West, said the &quot;unprecedented&quot; bombing of the past few days would undermine the significance of any peace deal brokered by Russia and the US in the coming days.&nbsp; 
 
The statement also expressed the rebels&#39; wariness about the West&#39;s attempt to forge a peace deal with Russia.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;It (Russia) is a partner with the regime in its crimes against our people,&quot; the statement read. 
 
The statement also accused Syrian forces of using napalm and chemical weapons in the war against them. 
 
The rebels&#39; apprehension comes close on the heels of&nbsp;Britain, France and the US on Saturday requesting for an urgent United Nations Security Council meeting on the escalating campaign in Aleppo. The meeting is said to be held later today. 
 
More than 300,000 people have lost their lives since the Syrian war broke out in 2012.&nbsp; 
 
(WION with inputs from Reuters)
<div>&nbsp;</div>

Rebels are wary of any peace deal involving Russia, a country that has put its weight behind the Syrian regime

US-backed Syrian rebels said a peace deal will have little meaning till the time bombing in Aleppo is stopped. Aleppo, Syria's largest city, has been bombed severely in the last few days by Russia-supported Syrian government. More than 30 rebel groups, including those backed by Turkey, Gulf states and the West, said the "unprecedented" bombing of the past few days would undermine the significance of any peace deal brokered by Russia and the US in the coming days. The statement also expressed the rebels' wariness about the West's attempt to forge a peace deal with Russia. "It (Russia) is a partner with the regime in its crimes against our people," the statement read. The statement also accused Syrian forces of using napalm and chemical weapons in the war against them. The rebels' apprehension comes close on the heels of Britain, France and the US on Saturday requesting for an urgent United Nations Security Council meeting on the escalating campaign in Aleppo. The meeting is said to be held later today. More than 300,000 people have lost their lives since the Syrian war broke out in 2012. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Aleppo bombings undermine peace efforts: Syrian rebels

Syrian insurgents, who broke the siege of rebel-held eastern Aleppo on Saturday in a significant territorial gain, came under intense air attack from pro-government forces on Sunday, who were trying to repel the advance which also cut government-held Aleppo&#39;s main supply route.

Rebels have taken most of a large government military complex southwest of Aleppo city in a major offensive begun on Friday to break a month-long siege, and are now attacking further into government-held territory.

The surprise advance in Ramousah allowed fighters from insurgent areas in western Syria to break through a strip of government-controlled territory on Saturday and connect with fighters in the encircled sector of eastern Aleppo.

But fierce fighting and continuous Russian and Syrian air strikes in and around the Ramousah area mean no safe passage for besieged east Aleppo residents has been established, activists and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Fighters from a coalition of Islamist rebel groups called &quot;Jaish al-Fateh&quot; announced the start of a new phase to liberate the whole of Aleppo, saying it pledged to increased the numbers of fighters for the battle it said will only end by hoisting their flag on the ancient Aleppo citadel in government hands.

Jets believed to be Russian, intensified their bombing of rebel-held Aleppo countryside and also hit opposition-held Idlib city in north western Syria, rebels said.&nbsp;They released video footage that showed huge flames of fire it said was caused by white phosphorus bombs dropped on the city.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad wants to take full control of Aleppo, pre-war Syria&#39;s most populous city, which has been divided between rebel and government-held areas.&nbsp;Assad&#39;s government forces are supported in Syria by Russian air power, Iranian militias and fighters from Lebanon&#39;s Hezbollah group who have sent reinforcements to shore up the army .

Rebel gains this weekend could change the balance of power in Aleppo, after Assad said a siege by the&nbsp;government and allied forces on rebel-held east Aleppo in early July was a prelude to re-taking the city. The loss of Aleppo would be a crushing blow for rebels.

&quot;We have now seized full control of the Ramousah area...We are in our trenches but there are insane air strikes of unprecedented ferociousness. The regime is using cluster and vacuum bombs,&quot; said Abu al Hasanien, a senior commander in Fateh Halab, the coalition of moderate rebel groups inside the city.

Pro-Syrian government news channels have mostly played down the rebel gains and say Syrian army efforts have caused rebels to withdraw from some recently-gained areas.

But Lebanese pro-Syrian government news channel al Mayadeen said late on Saturday the Syrian army had &quot;withdrawn from a number of positions southwest of Aleppo and repositioned itself in new defensive lines&quot;.

The Syrian military was not immediately available for comment.&nbsp;As the insurgents took over parts of the government&#39;s Ramousah military complex, which contains a number of military colleges, they broadcast images of the weaponry and ammunition they were taking possession of.

Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, formerly the al Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front, posted pictures of rows of armoured vehicles, munitions, howitzers, rockets and trucks.

The rebel front line is now pushing northwest into western held Aleppo on the edges of the Hamdaniya neighbourhood and a housing estate called the 3,000 project, rebels and the Observatory said.

North of Hamdaniya in the direction of the rebels&#39; push is another large government military complex, the Assad military engineering academy.

The opposition Syrian National Coalition (SNC) congratulated rebels on making &quot;spectacular gains (which send) a clear message to the Assad regime, Iran and Russia that they will not be able to defeat the Syrian people or dictate the terms of a settlement.&quot;

 
Seiges

Fears are growing in government-held western Aleppo that it might become besieged by rebels, as east Aleppo has been by government forces, because the main route south to Damascus for goods transport, the Ramousah road, has been severed.

News of the rebel advance caused food prices to rise by as much as four times in western Aleppo, the Observatory said.

Following the cutting of the main Ramousah road, Observatory director Rami Abdurrahman told Reuters military vehicles can still get in an out of west Aleppo through remaining exit roads to the north, but these are not safe enough for civilians.

In eastern Aleppo, despite some scenes of celebration as fighters broke the siege yesterday, the lack of a safe route out means conditions for residents remain unchanged.&nbsp;Three vans of vegetables crossed into east Aleppo, Abdurrahman said, but this was a symbolic gesture, and the corridor is too dangerous for civilians or significant supplies to pass.

The United Nations and humanitarian agencies have said conditions in isolated rebel-held east Aleppo have become very concerning.

&quot;Most recently I&#39;m hearing that the markets are closed and it&#39;s next to impossible to purchase food. The UN estimates that collectively all aid supplies in east Aleppo&nbsp;will only last about two more&nbsp;weeks,&quot; Christy Delafield, senior communications officer for Mercy Corps, which runs the largest non-governmental aid operation inside Syria, told Reuters.

The multi-sided civil war in Syria, which has been raging since 2011, has drawn in regional and global powers, caused the world&#39;s worst humanitarian emergency and attracted recruits to Islamist militancy from around the world. 
 
(Reuters)

In an offensive begun on Friday, rebels took most of a large government military complex and are attacking the government-held territory

Syrian insurgents, who broke the siege of rebel-held eastern Aleppo on Saturday in a significant territorial gain, came under intense air attack from pro-government forces on Sunday, who were trying to repel the advance which also cut government-held Aleppo's main supply route. Rebels have taken most of a large government military complex southwest of Aleppo city in a major offensive begun on Friday to break a month-long siege, and are now attacking further into government-held territory. The surprise advance in Ramousah allowed fighters from insurgent areas in western Syria to break through a strip of government-controlled territory on Saturday and connect with fighters in the encircled sector of eastern Aleppo. But fierce fighting and continuous Russian and Syrian air strikes in and around the Ramousah area mean no safe passage for besieged east Aleppo residents has been established, activists and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Fighters from a coalition of Islamist rebel groups called "Jaish al-Fateh" announced the start of a new phase to liberate the whole of Aleppo, saying it pledged to increased the numbers of fighters for the battle it said will only end by hoisting their flag on the ancient Aleppo citadel in government hands. Jets believed to be Russian, intensified their bombing of rebel-held Aleppo countryside and also hit opposition-held Idlib city in north western Syria, rebels said. They released video footage that showed huge flames of fire it said was caused by white phosphorus bombs dropped on the city. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad wants to take full control of Aleppo, pre-war Syria's most populous city, which has been divided between rebel and government-held areas. Assad's government forces are supported in Syria by Russian air power, Iranian militias and fighters from Lebanon's Hezbollah group who have sent reinforcements to shore up the army . Rebel gains this weekend could change the balance of power in Aleppo, after Assad said a siege by the government and allied forces on rebel-held east Aleppo in early July was a prelude to re-taking the city. The loss of Aleppo would be a crushing blow for rebels. "We have now seized full control of the Ramousah area...We are in our trenches but there are insane air strikes of unprecedented ferociousness. The regime is using cluster and vacuum bombs," said Abu al Hasanien, a senior commander in Fateh Halab, the coalition of moderate rebel groups inside the city. Pro-Syrian government news channels have mostly played down the rebel gains and say Syrian army efforts have caused rebels to withdraw from some recently-gained areas. But Lebanese pro-Syrian government news channel al Mayadeen said late on Saturday the Syrian army had "withdrawn from a number of positions southwest of Aleppo and repositioned itself in new defensive lines". The Syrian military was not immediately available for comment. As the insurgents took over parts of the government's Ramousah military complex, which contains a number of military colleges, they broadcast images of the weaponry and ammunition they were taking possession of. Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, formerly the al Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front, posted pictures of rows of armoured vehicles, munitions, howitzers, rockets and trucks. The rebel front line is now pushing northwest into western held Aleppo on the edges of the Hamdaniya neighbourhood and a housing estate called the 3,000 project, rebels and the Observatory said. North of Hamdaniya in the direction of the rebels' push is another large government military complex, the Assad military engineering academy. The opposition Syrian National Coalition (SNC) congratulated rebels on making "spectacular gains (which send) a clear message to the Assad regime, Iran and Russia that they will not be able to defeat the Syrian people or dictate the terms of a settlement." Seiges Fears are growing in government-held western Aleppo that it might become besieged by rebels, as east Aleppo has been by government forces, because the main route south to Damascus for goods transport, the Ramousah road, has been severed. News of the rebel advance caused food prices to rise by as much as four times in western Aleppo, the Observatory said. Following the cutting of the main Ramousah road, Observatory director Rami Abdurrahman told Reuters military vehicles can still get in an out of west Aleppo through remaining exit roads to the north, but these are not safe enough for civilians. In eastern Aleppo, despite some scenes of celebration as fighters broke the siege yesterday, the lack of a safe route out means conditions for residents remain unchanged. Three vans of vegetables crossed into east Aleppo, Abdurrahman said, but this was a symbolic gesture, and the corridor is too dangerous for civilians or significant supplies to pass. The United Nations and humanitarian agencies have said conditions in isolated rebel-held east Aleppo have become very concerning. "Most recently I'm hearing that the markets are closed and it's next to impossible to purchase food. The UN estimates that collectively all aid supplies in east Aleppo will only last about two more weeks," Christy Delafield, senior communications officer for Mercy Corps, which runs the largest non-governmental aid operation inside Syria, told Reuters. The multi-sided civil war in Syria, which has been raging since 2011, has drawn in regional and global powers, caused the world's worst humanitarian emergency and attracted recruits to Islamist militancy from around the world. (Reuters)

Jets pound rebels after they break month-long Aleppo siege

Syrian rebels said on Saturday they have broken a three-week government siege of second city Aleppo, turning the tables on Russian-backed regime forces who are now on the defensive. 
 
To the northeast, a Western-backed alliance of Arab and Kurdish fighters scored a major victory against the Islamic State group in the town of Manbij after a fierce two-month battle. 
 
The developments have rocked the key northern province of Aleppo, a microcosm of Syria&#39;s chaotic multi-front war that has killed more than 280,000 people. 
 
Rebel and regime forces have fought to control the provincial capital since mid-2012, transforming the former economic powerhouse into a divided, bombed-out city. 
 
Opposition fighters, Islamists and jihadists have waged fierce assaults since July 31 to end the siege by government forces of some 250,000 people in eastern Aleppo. 
 
On Saturday, rebels successfully broke the siege by opening a new route into the city from the southwest, opposition officials said.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Rebels break Aleppo&#39;s siege,&quot; tweeted the Istanbul-based opposition National Coalition. 
 
Islamist faction Ahrar al-Sham said rebels had seized control of Ramussa on the southwestern edges of the city and &quot;opened the route to Aleppo&quot;. 
 
But state television said late on Saturday the army had regained control of several key points in a military complex that rebels overran earlier.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Our armed forces took control of the part of the artillery school that had been seized by terrorists... while (rebel) groups withdrew from points in the armament school,&quot; it said, citing a military source. 
 
Al-Manar, the television station of the Lebanese group Hezbollah which is fighting alongside Syrian government forces, denied that Ramussa had fallen or that the siege had been broken. Riad Hijab, head of the broad opposition body the High Negotiations Committee, tweeted: &quot;The liberation of Ramussa and the breaking of the siege are a good omen for Syria`s revolution.&quot; 
 
An AFP journalist in eastern Aleppo said residents were on the streets and firing celebratory shots into the air. 
 
&quot;Days ago, I was only thinking about how to get a bite to eat,&quot; said Ahmad Adna, a 46-year-old resident of eastern Aleppo. 
 
&quot;Now I&#39;m more optimistic after the (rebel) Army of Conquest&#39;s advance. I hope today will be the last day of the siege.&quot; 
 
Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said rebels &quot;broke the siege, but the route is not fully secure yet&quot; between the city and its outskirts.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;This is an existential battle. Whoever wins it will win Aleppo.&quot; 
 
The monitor said more than 700 rebels and government fighters had been killed since the offensive began on Sunday -- 200 on Saturday alone. 
 
At least 130 civilians had been killed, among them seven on Saturday in rebel shelling of the regime-held neighbourhood of Hamdaniyeh, the Observatory said. 
 
The former Al-Nusra Front -- renamed the Fateh al-Sham Front after breaking from Al-Qaeda -- said on Saturday that rebels from inside Aleppo city had linked up with others on the outskirts. 
 
Drone footage posted by the group online showed a series of explosions on the edges of Aleppo, and columns of billowing black smoke.Fearful residents of western districts watched the news on television screens in street cafes. 
 
&quot;Of course I have faith in the army, but I can&#39;t help being scared. Food is already getting more expensive and the coming days risk being very difficult,&quot; said a 34-year-old resident of a government-held western quarter. 
 
&quot;We are thinking about how to leave,&quot; he told AFP. 
 
Also on Saturday, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces alliance defeated IS in Manbij. 
 
The Observatory said the SDF &quot;took control of Manbij... and are combing the city in search of the last remaining jihadists&quot;. 
 
Manbij had been a key transit point along IS&#39;s supply route from the Turkish border to Raqa, de facto capital of its self-styled &quot;caliphate&quot;. 
 
Backed by the US-led air coalition, the SDF offensive began on May 31 and it entered the town less than a month later, in an assault slowed by jihadist suicide attackers and car bombs. 
 
The Manbij Military Council -- a key component of the SDF -- said fighting was continuing near the town centre, however. 
 
&quot;We are in control of 90 percent of Manbij,&quot; spokesman Sherfan Darwish said. 
 
In the northwestern province of Idlib bordering Turkey, meanwhile, raids by either regime or Russian warplanes on Saturday near a hospital in Milis killed at least 10 civilians, the Observatory said. 
 
Syria&#39;s conflict first erupted in March 2011 with anti-government protests but has since evolved into a fully fledged war largely dominated by jihadist groups. 
 
 
(AFP)

The siege was broken when the rebels opened a new route into the city from the southwest

Syrian rebels said on Saturday they have broken a three-week government siege of second city Aleppo, turning the tables on Russian-backed regime forces who are now on the defensive. To the northeast, a Western-backed alliance of Arab and Kurdish fighters scored a major victory against the Islamic State group in the town of Manbij after a fierce two-month battle. The developments have rocked the key northern province of Aleppo, a microcosm of Syria's chaotic multi-front war that has killed more than 280,000 people. Rebel and regime forces have fought to control the provincial capital since mid-2012, transforming the former economic powerhouse into a divided, bombed-out city. Opposition fighters, Islamists and jihadists have waged fierce assaults since July 31 to end the siege by government forces of some 250,000 people in eastern Aleppo. On Saturday, rebels successfully broke the siege by opening a new route into the city from the southwest, opposition officials said. "Rebels break Aleppo's siege," tweeted the Istanbul-based opposition National Coalition. Islamist faction Ahrar al-Sham said rebels had seized control of Ramussa on the southwestern edges of the city and "opened the route to Aleppo". But state television said late on Saturday the army had regained control of several key points in a military complex that rebels overran earlier. "Our armed forces took control of the part of the artillery school that had been seized by terrorists... while (rebel) groups withdrew from points in the armament school," it said, citing a military source. Al-Manar, the television station of the Lebanese group Hezbollah which is fighting alongside Syrian government forces, denied that Ramussa had fallen or that the siege had been broken. Riad Hijab, head of the broad opposition body the High Negotiations Committee, tweeted: "The liberation of Ramussa and the breaking of the siege are a good omen for Syria`s revolution." An AFP journalist in eastern Aleppo said residents were on the streets and firing celebratory shots into the air. "Days ago, I was only thinking about how to get a bite to eat," said Ahmad Adna, a 46-year-old resident of eastern Aleppo. "Now I'm more optimistic after the (rebel) Army of Conquest's advance. I hope today will be the last day of the siege." Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said rebels "broke the siege, but the route is not fully secure yet" between the city and its outskirts. "This is an existential battle. Whoever wins it will win Aleppo." The monitor said more than 700 rebels and government fighters had been killed since the offensive began on Sunday -- 200 on Saturday alone. At least 130 civilians had been killed, among them seven on Saturday in rebel shelling of the regime-held neighbourhood of Hamdaniyeh, the Observatory said. The former Al-Nusra Front -- renamed the Fateh al-Sham Front after breaking from Al-Qaeda -- said on Saturday that rebels from inside Aleppo city had linked up with others on the outskirts. Drone footage posted by the group online showed a series of explosions on the edges of Aleppo, and columns of billowing black smoke.Fearful residents of western districts watched the news on television screens in street cafes. "Of course I have faith in the army, but I can't help being scared. Food is already getting more expensive and the coming days risk being very difficult," said a 34-year-old resident of a government-held western quarter. "We are thinking about how to leave," he told AFP. Also on Saturday, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces alliance defeated IS in Manbij. The Observatory said the SDF "took control of Manbij... and are combing the city in search of the last remaining jihadists". Manbij had been a key transit point along IS's supply route from the Turkish border to Raqa, de facto capital of its self-styled "caliphate". Backed by the US-led air coalition, the SDF offensive began on May 31 and it entered the town less than a month later, in an assault slowed by jihadist suicide attackers and car bombs. The Manbij Military Council -- a key component of the SDF -- said fighting was continuing near the town centre, however. "We are in control of 90 percent of Manbij," spokesman Sherfan Darwish said. In the northwestern province of Idlib bordering Turkey, meanwhile, raids by either regime or Russian warplanes on Saturday near a hospital in Milis killed at least 10 civilians, the Observatory said. Syria's conflict first erupted in March 2011 with anti-government protests but has since evolved into a fully fledged war largely dominated by jihadist groups. (AFP)

Three-week siege broken in Aleppo: Syrian rebels

At least 29 Syrian rebels were killed in clashes with regime troops overnight during a failed bid to reopen the opposition`s key supply route into Aleppo city, a monitor said today. 
 
The fighters from the Faylaq al-Sham Islamist faction and al-Qaeda affiliate al-Nusra Front were killed trying to reopen the Castello Road, which regime forces effectively severed on Thursday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said. 
 
The road was the only remaining supply route into the opposition-held east of Aleppo city, which has been divided between government and rebel control since mid-2012. 
 
Government forces effectively severed the route on Thursday when they seized a hilltop within firing range of the Castello Road. 
 
The Observatory said there were deaths among government forces in the overnight fighting, but had no immediate toll. 
 
&quot;The attack has ended and the road remains completely closed,&quot; said Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman. 
 
(AFP)

Fighters from Faylaq al-Sham Islamist faction and al-Qaeda affiliate al-Nusra Front were killed during a failed bid to reopen Castello Road

At least 29 Syrian rebels were killed in clashes with regime troops overnight during a failed bid to reopen the opposition`s key supply route into Aleppo city, a monitor said today. The fighters from the Faylaq al-Sham Islamist faction and al-Qaeda affiliate al-Nusra Front were killed trying to reopen the Castello Road, which regime forces effectively severed on Thursday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said. The road was the only remaining supply route into the opposition-held east of Aleppo city, which has been divided between government and rebel control since mid-2012. Government forces effectively severed the route on Thursday when they seized a hilltop within firing range of the Castello Road. The Observatory said there were deaths among government forces in the overnight fighting, but had no immediate toll. "The attack has ended and the road remains completely closed," said Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman. (AFP)

29 Syria rebels killed in fighting for key Aleppo road

Islamist rebels and jihadists in Syria are guilty of war crimes, Amnesty International said in a report on Tuesday, accusing them of &quot;a chilling wave of abductions, torture and summary killings&quot;. 
 
The London-based rights group named five Syrian anti-regime factions operating in northern Syria: Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front, hardliner Ahrar al-Sham, Nureddin Zinki, the Levant Front and Division 16. 
 
The groups have detained and tortured lawyers, journalists, and children, among others, for criticising them, committing acts seen as immoral, or being minorities, the report said. 
 
&quot;Many civilians live in constant fear of being abducted if they criticise the conduct of armed groups in power or fail to abide by the strict rules that some have imposed,&quot; said Philip Luther, head of Amnesty&#39;s Middle East and North Africa programme. 
 
&quot;In Aleppo and Idlib today, armed groups have free rein to commit war crimes and other violations of international humanitarian law with impunity,&quot; he added. 
 
The report is based on 24 accounts of abduction by anti-regime groups between 2012 and 2016 and another five cases of torture. 
 
Halim, a humanitarian worker, was kidnapped and tortured by Nureddin Zinki rebels in Aleppo city until he confessed to a crime. 
 
&quot;When I refused to sign the confession paper, the interrogator ordered the guard to torture me,&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;He then started beating me with cables on the soles of my feet. I couldn&#39;t bear the pain so I signed the paper,&quot; Halim said. 
 
Jihadist and hardline religious groups operate their own religious courts which punish crimes such as apostasy or adultery with death. 
 
Saleh was held by Al-Nusra in late 2014, and was told by his guard that five women accused of adultery would &quot;only be forgiven by death.&quot; 
 
He said he later watched a video showing Al-Nusra militants publicly killing one of the women execution-style. 
 
Amnesty said it documented violations in Idlib, which is held by Al-Nusra and its allies, and Aleppo. 
 
Syria&#39;s conflict began in March 2011 with anti-government protests but has since broken down into an all-out war, leaving more than 280,000 people dead. 
 
Rights groups have accused both the regime of Bashar al-Assad and anti-government factions of indiscriminate attacks, torture and detention. 
 
Amnesty called on world powers to &quot;pressure armed groups to end such abuses and comply with the laws of war&quot;. 
 
The report said regional powers must also stop providing weapons or other forms of support to any factions involved in war crimes or other violations. 
 
It said some of the accused groups &quot;are believed to have the support of governments such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the US&quot;. 
 
(AFP)

The report is based on 24 accounts of abduction by anti-regime groups between 2012 and 2016 and another five cases of torture

Islamist rebels and jihadists in Syria are guilty of war crimes, Amnesty International said in a report on Tuesday, accusing them of "a chilling wave of abductions, torture and summary killings". The London-based rights group named five Syrian anti-regime factions operating in northern Syria: Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front, hardliner Ahrar al-Sham, Nureddin Zinki, the Levant Front and Division 16. The groups have detained and tortured lawyers, journalists, and children, among others, for criticising them, committing acts seen as immoral, or being minorities, the report said. "Many civilians live in constant fear of being abducted if they criticise the conduct of armed groups in power or fail to abide by the strict rules that some have imposed," said Philip Luther, head of Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa programme. "In Aleppo and Idlib today, armed groups have free rein to commit war crimes and other violations of international humanitarian law with impunity," he added. The report is based on 24 accounts of abduction by anti-regime groups between 2012 and 2016 and another five cases of torture. Halim, a humanitarian worker, was kidnapped and tortured by Nureddin Zinki rebels in Aleppo city until he confessed to a crime. "When I refused to sign the confession paper, the interrogator ordered the guard to torture me," he said. "He then started beating me with cables on the soles of my feet. I couldn't bear the pain so I signed the paper," Halim said. Jihadist and hardline religious groups operate their own religious courts which punish crimes such as apostasy or adultery with death. Saleh was held by Al-Nusra in late 2014, and was told by his guard that five women accused of adultery would "only be forgiven by death." He said he later watched a video showing Al-Nusra militants publicly killing one of the women execution-style. Amnesty said it documented violations in Idlib, which is held by Al-Nusra and its allies, and Aleppo. Syria's conflict began in March 2011 with anti-government protests but has since broken down into an all-out war, leaving more than 280,000 people dead. Rights groups have accused both the regime of Bashar al-Assad and anti-government factions of indiscriminate attacks, torture and detention. Amnesty called on world powers to "pressure armed groups to end such abuses and comply with the laws of war". The report said regional powers must also stop providing weapons or other forms of support to any factions involved in war crimes or other violations. It said some of the accused groups "are believed to have the support of governments such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the US". (AFP)

Syrian rebels, jihadists guilty of war crimes: Amnesty report

Weapons shipped into Jordan for Syrian rebels by the Central Intelligence Agency and Saudi Arabia were stolen by Jordanian intelligence operatives and sold to arms merchants on the black market, the New York Times reported, citing American and Jordanian officials.

Some of the stolen weapons were used in a shooting in November that killed two Americans and three others at a police training facility in Amman, according to a joint investigation by the New York Times and Al Jazeera. (http://nyti.ms/292MmdH)

A Jordanian officer shot dead two US&nbsp;government security contractors, a South African trainer and two Jordanians at a US-funded police training facility near Amman before being killed in a shootout, Jordanian authorities had said in November.

The training facility was set up on the outskirts of the capital, Amman, after the 2003 US&nbsp;invasion of Iraq to help rebuild the shattered country&#39;s postwar security forces and to train Palestinian Authority police officers.

The weapons used in the shooting had originally arrived in Jordan for the Syrian rebel training program, the paper reported, citing American and Jordanian officials.

Theft of the weapons, which ended months ago after complaints by the American and Saudi governments, has led to a flood of new weapons available on the arms black market, the New York Times said.

Jordanian officers who were part of the plan &quot;reaped a windfall&quot; from sale of weapons, using the money to buy iPhones, SUVs and other luxury items, according to the paper, which cited Jordanian officials.

The&nbsp;CIA&nbsp;could not be immediately reached for comment. 
 
(Reuters)

Some of the stolen weapons were used in a shooting in November that killed two Americans and three others in Amman

Weapons shipped into Jordan for Syrian rebels by the Central Intelligence Agency and Saudi Arabia were stolen by Jordanian intelligence operatives and sold to arms merchants on the black market, the New York Times reported, citing American and Jordanian officials. Some of the stolen weapons were used in a shooting in November that killed two Americans and three others at a police training facility in Amman, according to a joint investigation by the New York Times and Al Jazeera. (http://nyti.ms/292MmdH) A Jordanian officer shot dead two US government security contractors, a South African trainer and two Jordanians at a US-funded police training facility near Amman before being killed in a shootout, Jordanian authorities had said in November. The training facility was set up on the outskirts of the capital, Amman, after the 2003 US invasion of Iraq to help rebuild the shattered country's postwar security forces and to train Palestinian Authority police officers. The weapons used in the shooting had originally arrived in Jordan for the Syrian rebel training program, the paper reported, citing American and Jordanian officials. Theft of the weapons, which ended months ago after complaints by the American and Saudi governments, has led to a flood of new weapons available on the arms black market, the New York Times said. Jordanian officers who were part of the plan "reaped a windfall" from sale of weapons, using the money to buy iPhones, SUVs and other luxury items, according to the paper, which cited Jordanian officials. The CIA could not be immediately reached for comment. (Reuters)

CIA weapons for Syrian rebels stolen by Jordanian intelligence operatives, sold on black market

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