Syrian war update: Aleppo evacuation back on track after the second deal

Evacuation of rebel-controlled districts of Aleppo is back on track after a second deal was set on Tuesday. It is expected to begin within hours, confirmed the Syrian military and rebels. The plan is seen as a road to victory for President Bashar al-Assad in his attempt to end years of fighting.

The first deal was meant to evacuate thousands of civilians until rebel fighters stopped them from leaving affected villages. Syrian ally Iran came up with a new condition, asking to evacuate only the wounded from two villages besieged by rebels, said the United Nations (UN) and the rebels. Abdul Salam Abdul Razak, leader of one of the rebel groups, said that both sides have signed the new agreement including said condition.

Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday assured that he would discuss this with his Russian counterpart in order to save the ceasefire deal in Aleppo. “The situation on the ground is very fragile and complicated,” he said. Russia, Turkey and Syrian rebels said on Tuesday that they have reached an agreement to evacuate civilians and opposition fighters from Aleppo.

On Wednesday, the Syrian army broke the ceasefire again, ending the calm that prevailed for hours after the deal. "This morning regime forces fired at least 14 shells onto the area held by the rebels for the first time since Tuesday," said Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. He added that they could hear mortar fire from the frontlines.

The shelling was renewed when the evacuation did not fall through as scheduled in the early morning. The plan was put on hold, said sources close to the warring parties. A government source said that Damascus expressed opposition at the number of people leaving and wanted to have their names. The original plan was to evacuate 2,000 fighters, but the number has now grown to more than 10,000. The Government ensures that no hostages or prisoners are included in the plan.

Yasser al-Youssef, a political officer of one of the rebel groups, accused Syria and its backer, Iran, of adding new conditions to the deal.