Syria: Rebels fight to gain control of Aleppo

Rebel fighters in Aleppo in Syria under air-attack from pro-government forces..

On Saturday the rebel fighters declared they had finally broken through the government siege which also cut government-held Aleppo’s main supply route.

An alliance of Syrian rebels has announced the beginning of a battle to retake the entire city of Aleppo https://t.co/fQuSeqdgPj

— Sky News (@SkyNews) August 8, 2016

Rebels have taken most of a large government military complex southwest of Aleppo city in a major offensive that begun on Friday, to break a month-long siege and are now attacking further into government held territory.

But, fierce fighting and continuous Russian and Syrian air strikes in and around the Ramousah area, means no safe passage for besieged east Aleppo residents has been established, activists and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Why the battle of Aleppo is important to the future of Syria's conflict https://t.co/9lIzvRoKZ9 pic.twitter.com/evvfcRL7f8

— Bloomberg (@business) August 8, 2016

It is estimated that 250,000 people reportedly leave in the besieged areas.

Video purports to show Syrians celebrating in the streets after rebels say they have broken the siege in Aleppo, but pro-government media outlets deny the siege has been broken. Euronews