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Jets pound Aleppo in government push to take city

Government fighter jets backed by Russian air force pound rebel-held Aleppo, as ground assault begins.

People look at the sky fearing an air strike in the rebel-held al-Myassar neighbourhood of Aleppo. [Abdalrhman Ismail/Reuters]
People look at the sky fearing an air strike in the rebel-held al-Myassar neighbourhood of Aleppo. [Abdalrhman Ismail/Reuters]
28 Sep 2016

Syrian government forces and their allies began a major ground offensive to retake the opposition-held east of Aleppo on Tuesday, the biggest ground assault yet in a massive new campaign that has destroyed a US-backed ceasefire.

More than 275,000 civilians are believed to be trapped inside the besieged rebel-held sector of Aleppo, where intensive bombing over the past week has killed hundreds of people, many trapped under buildings brought down by bunker-busting bombs.

Only about 30 doctors are left in rebel-held Aleppo, coping with hundreds of wounded each day who are being treated on the floors of hospitals that are bereft of supplies.

The World Health Organization called for the “immediate establishment of humanitarian routes to evacuate sick and wounded” from the besieged eastern part of the city.

Stacks of bread are seen at a damaged site after an air strike in the rebel-held Bab al-Maqam neighbourhood of Aleppo. [Abdalrhman Ismail/Reuters]
Stacks of bread are seen at a damaged site after an air strike in the rebel-held Bab al-Maqam neighbourhood of Aleppo. [Abdalrhman Ismail/Reuters]
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Civil Defence members search for survivors at a site hit by an air strike in the rebel-held al-Shaar neighbourhood of Aleppo. [Abdalrhman Ismail/Reuters]
Civil Defence members search for survivors at a site hit by an air strike in the rebel-held al-Shaar neighbourhood of Aleppo. [Abdalrhman Ismail/Reuters]
Free Syrian army fighters queue as they head towards their positions in the northern rural area of Aleppo. [Khalil Ashawi/Reuters]
Free Syrian army fighters queue as they head towards their positions in the northern rural area of Aleppo. [Khalil Ashawi/Reuters]
People dig in the rubble in the search for survivors at a site hit by an air strike in the rebel-held Tariq al-Bab neighborhood of Aleppo. [Abdalrhman Ismail/Reuters]
People dig in the rubble in the search for survivors at a site hit by an air strike in the rebel-held Tariq al-Bab neighborhood of Aleppo. [Abdalrhman Ismail/Reuters]
A photograph released on September 25 2016 by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows Syrian government troops at Handarat camp in the north of Aleppo after its recapture. [Sana Handout/EPA]
A photograph released on September 25 2016 by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows Syrian government troops at Handarat camp in the north of Aleppo after its recapture. [Sana Handout/EPA]
A vehicle drives past damaged buildings in the northern Syrian rebel-controlled town of al-Rai, in rural Aleppo. [Khalil Ashawi/Reuters]
A vehicle drives past damaged buildings in the northern Syrian rebel-controlled town of al-Rai, in rural Aleppo. [Khalil Ashawi/Reuters]
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A boy inspect the rubble after air strikes on the rebel-held Tariq al-Bab neighborhood of Aleppo. [Abdalrhman Ismail/Reuters]
A boy inspect the rubble after air strikes on the rebel-held Tariq al-Bab neighborhood of Aleppo. [Abdalrhman Ismail/Reuters]
State television reported that the army had retaken al-Farafra district in Aleppo's Old City, while engineering units were clearing mines in the area. [Sana Handout/EPA]
State television reported that the army had retaken al-Farafra district in Aleppo's Old City, while engineering units were clearing mines in the area. [Sana Handout/EPA]
If President Bashar al-Assad's forces do recapture the ancient city it would mark a turning point in the war, which has killed an estimated 400,000 people and displaced millions. [Abdalrhman Ismail/Reuters]
If President Bashar al-Assad's forces do recapture the ancient city it would mark a turning point in the war, which has killed an estimated 400,000 people and displaced millions. [Abdalrhman Ismail/Reuters]
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