LATAKIA (Sputnik) — Fighting intensified in the contested city in recent days as militants mounted an offensive to break through government cordons. Some 250,000 civilians are feared to be trapped in the rebel-held eastern districts.
An official with the Aleppo administration said people were fleeing through specially-designated corridors under heavy rebel fire. He said militants were using crude homemade weapons.
"Their accuracy is very low but in place of munitions they are using gas canisters filled with metal projectiles – nails, screws and bolts. Blasts can be heard every 5-10 minutes in different parts of Aleppo," the official told journalists.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said last week that Moscow and Damascus had launched a large-scale humanitarian operation in Aleppo, opening three escape routes for civilians and one for militants wishing to lay down arms.
