Syrian army spokesman Brigadier General Samir Suleiman announced that the military has regained control of 45 to 50 percent of east Aleppo, as the government forces continue to advance in the besieged city.
On Saturday, the Syrian Army General Command called on the residents of the eastern districts of Aleppo to return to their homes after security and stability has been restored, as well as of public institutions going back to work in these areas.
Local sources told RIA Novosti that work was underway in the liberated districts to restore utility services, including water and electricity.
Political columnist for the Washington Post Charles Krauthammer commented on the success in Syria, calling it a vivid example of the "end of the Western dominance" on the international arena.
The US, he says, which has been dominant in the world since the "end of communism" and the collapse of the Soviet Union is "in retreat."
Among other indications of the end of the "Western triumph," he names the growing opposition to the US-led anti-Russian sanctions within Europe.
As Europe "tires of the sanctions imposed on Russia," President Obama’s "much-touted 'isolation' of Russia has ignominiously dissolved, as our secretary of state repeatedly goes cap in hand to Russia to beg for mercy in Syria," he says.
Besides, the US' "pivot to Asia" has "turned into an abject failure."
"The West is turning inward and going home, leaving the field to the rising authoritarians — Russia, China and Iran," he suggests.
He provides his own explanation of the US failure.
The West’s retreat began with Obama, he suggests, as "he’s always felt the US was not good enough for the world, too flawed to have earned the moral right to be the world hegemon."
"Trump would follow suit, disdaining allies and avoiding conflict, because the world is not good enough for us — undeserving, ungrateful, parasitic foreigners living safely under our protection and off our sacrifices. Time to look after our own American interests," he suggests.
Meanwhile Russian Middle East expert at the Institute of Social Sciences of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration Sergei Demidenko also commented on the success of the Syrian army in Aleppo, however warning against connecting it with any external political developments.
In an interview with RIA Novosti he said that Russia pursues its own purposes in Syria, which have nothing to do with the political changes in the US and the change of the administration.
"However, there is no use connecting the intensity of Syrian military operations with any momentary developments in the foreign politics," he added.
He also warned against connecting Russia's military operations in Syria with the upcoming inauguration of Donald Trump, noting that Moscow has a certain plan for its activity in Syria. And the retaking of Aleppo will be a demonstration of the capability of Russian-Syrian-Iranian alliance and the strength of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
