Shia militias keep civilians from leaving Aleppo: sources
| Reuters Photo
by Anadolu Agency
Dec 12, 2016 12:00 am


Despite Russian assertions last week that the Syrian regime would halt attacks on eastern Aleppo to allow civilians to leave besieged areas, Iran-affiliated Shia militias are hindering them from doing so, according to local sources.

"Fighters from [Lebanon's] Hezbollah and [Iraq's] Al-Nujaba militias are preventing civilians from leaving the city," one local source who preferred anonymity told Anadolu Agency.

An estimated 100,000 city residents remain under siege by the regime and its allies in some 8.6 square kilometers of eastern Aleppo.

Assad regime's first major advance since Russia's intervention in Sep. 2015 was cutting off opposition's supply route from Turkey and lifting the siege on Zahraa and Nubl towns in early Feb. 2016.
The PYD/YPG forces in Afrin also moved eastwards to opposition-held territory, capturing Menagh Air Base and the town of Tal Rifaat while pressuring Azaz, preventing an opposition counter attack.
In late July, regime forces attacked the Castello Road, the only remaining supply route of the opposition to east Aleppo, effectively laying siege on some 300,000 civilians.
Opposition fighters launched an attack to Ramouseh district and Artillery College in early August, managing to open a new supply route after fierce clashes and cut off regime's supply routes.
This route failed to function properly amid regime's air and artillery strikes, and the regime launched a new attack in early September, laying siege on east Aleppo once again.
The regime launched an attack in northern Aleppo in mid-October, capturing the Handarat refugee camp and several neighborhoods in northern parts of the city.
Opposition launched a large scale attack on w. Aleppo in late October, failing to make any gains amid staunch resistance by the regime, which launched its counter-offensive on e. Aleppo on Nov. 26.
Opposition fighters suffered huge setbacks against regime forces on Nov. 27, retreating in most parts of northeastern Aleppo. Regime forces managed to cut off and isolate several neighborhoods.
On Nov.28, civilians in captured areas fled to PYD-held Sheikh Maqsood neighborhood and southwards to opposition controlled parts, along with fighters moving south to reinforce the area.
On Dec. 1, regime forces launched a new attack to capture the parts of Aleppo's old city controlled by the opposition.
By Dec. 4, regime forces managed to advance in northeastern axis, capturing Karm al-Myassar, Karm al-Qatirji and Karm al-Tahan districts from opposition fighters.
Regime forces managed to drive opposition fighters out of the neighborhoods located east and south of the Aleppo citadel by Dec. 7.
By Dec. 11, regime forces advanced into Sheikh Saeed district as opposition groups started retreating west of the Kouwalk River amid relentless regime bombing an shelling.
Regime forces captured Bustan al-Qasr and al-Kallasah districts east of Kouwalk River, effectively controlling over 90 percent of Aleppo and leaving some 150,000 people trapped under bombardment.

Most of them have faced worsening food and water shortages since the Syrian regime captured Aleppo's Bab al-Nairab district, home to a major water supply tank, earlier this month.

Over the course of the last 27 days, some 990 civilians have been killed in eastern Aleppo in attacks by the Syrian regime and allied militias, local sources report.

"Assad regime forces and their Iranian-backed allies aren't letting civilians leave," Ahmed Hammami, an opposition field commander, told Anadolu Agency.

"Shia militiamen from Iran and Iraq are causing significant distress to civilians," he said.

"Young men who venture into regime-held areas are forced to take up arms and sent to the frontlines to fight," Hammami asserted.

"Some 80 percent of the military operations being conducted [in and around Aleppo] are being carried out by foreign militias," he added.

"Elements from the Syrian army are very few," he said. "The regime is relying on foreign militias, of which Iran is the primary financer."

According to Hammami, Shia militias are directing civilians to vacate combat zones in Aleppo for nearby areas.

"Thousands of families were recently directed to [Aleppo's] militia-held Ansari neighborhood," he told Anadolu Agency.

"We fear massacres could be committed in this neighborhood and in similar cases," Hammami added.

Ismail Abdullah, an Aleppo resident, told Anadolu Agency via the internet that city residents were "unable to find water to drink or food to eat, while the power supply was cut months ago".

Last Update: December 13, 2016 13:36