Syria captures 85% of Aleppo from 73%
The Syrian army has increased Aleppo's territory gain to 85 percent from 73 percent gain on Wednesday. The army continued to push forward but slower than the previous advances. President Bashar al-Assad said that even they slowed down, they are sure that victory was coming.
"It's true that Aleppo will be a win for us," Assad said.
"Let's be realistic -- it won't mean the end of the war in Syria. But it will be a huge step towards this end," Assad said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that they halted the attack to let civilians leave the rebel-held territory.
Read: Syria captures Aleppo's rebel-held area gaining 73% of government-controlled area
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that there were heavy clashes in the rebel-held neigbourhoods including Bustan al-Qasr, Kallaseh, Sukkari, Saif al-Dawla and Zibdiya. The attack terrified the residents and they were seen fleeing in the streets.
The troops have bombarded the rebel-held east Aleppo with heavy bombing as fighter from Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement backed them up.
Although the rebels were attacked, they also bombarded the government-held west Aleppo with rockets which shook the windows of buildings.
The bombing has killed at least 384 people in east Aleppo while at least 105 people in the west.
The mass exodus was prompted due to the assault. There were at least 80,000 people from the Salhine district who have fled their homes. They arrived in Aziza located in the southeastern suburb of Aleppo.
The rebels asked for a five-day ceasefire but the western countries have backed the call. The United Nations (UN) also renewed its call for an immediate ceasefire to evacuate 500 sick and injured children caught in a crossfire. Syria government said that a truce is possible if there is a full rebel withdrawal. However, rebels have rejected any talk that will lead them to abandon Aleppo.
The International Committee of the Red Cross carried out an operation with Syria's Red Crescent from a health facility in Aleppo's Old City on Wednesday.
