Syria war 2016: Syria's army aims to take full control of Aleppo's Old City

Syria's army advanced towards Aleppo's Old City on Sunday along with its allied militia as it aimed to restore its full control on the rebel-controlled area. Russia believed that the withdrawal of all rebels would normalise life in the rebel-controlled area. If the rebels decided to withdraw, it would mark the biggest triumph for President Bashar al-Assad in a war triggered by the protests against his rule in 2011.

On Saturday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the country was ready for a talk with US. The talk intends that both countries agree on the pullout of all rebels without exclusion from eastern Allepo. However, there was no immediate response from the country.

Read: Turkey confirms ceasefire agreement with Russia in Syria

Meanwhile, senior rebel official Zakaria Malahifji of the Fastaqim group said they would not leave the city. He also reiterated the calls of the rebel groups that they should be provided with an evacuation of the wounded. He also reminded their demand on humanitarian corridors to be opened for food delivery.

The Jabha Shamiya official said that the Old City would be threatened to a great degree that may force a rebel withdrawal to the southwestern corner of their enclave. A military official said that the attack would take weeks until the terrorists are eliminated in the area. Currently, food and fuel supplies are critically low in the eastern part of Aleppo. The officials also said that the situation may lead to the rebels' decision to negotiate a withdrawal from eastern Aleppo.

The Syrian war has displaced up to 30,000 people in its latest fighting. There were 18,000 people displaced to government-controlled areas while more than 8,500 to the Kurdish-controlled neighborhood of Sheikh Maqsoud. There were also people displaced in rebel-controlled areas. According to UN envoy Staffan de Mistura, there were more than 100,000 people possibly staying in the rebel-controlled areas.