Syrian forces continue to squeeze rebels from Aleppo

World Today

Battles for Aleppo rages on as the Syrian army presses ahead further diminishing areas under the control of insurgents to less than two percent of eastern. Aleppo according to the army’s press office.

The Syrian army could fully retake eastern Aleppo in a matter of hours.

Government forces said they are back in control of 98 percent of the rebel-held region.

The last sliver of land is packed with opposition fighters – as well as tens of thousands of civilians.

CCTV’s Alaa Ebrahim reports from the front-line in Aleppo.

Battles for Aleppo rages on as the Syrian army presses ahead further diminishing areas under the control of insurgents to less than 2 percent of eastern Aleppo, according to the army’s press office.

In the center of battles is the citadel of Aleppo, the historic monument remained under the control of army units throughout rebel presence in the old city. The castle is the main launching pad for army operation to regain control of eastern Aleppo.

Getting to the citadel is a difficult task that involves walking through a maze of dangerous tunnels.

Moving in the tunnels has to be in small numbers and breathing is difficult in the absence of ventilation.

Units for the Syrian army’s elite, the Republican Guards and specials forces guards the citadel that rebels have repeatedly tried to take but with little success though they applied the same tactics as the army.

Smoke rises on the skyline of Aleppo and sound of shelling fill the air. The battle here shows no sign of slowing down.