DAMASCUS (Sputnik) — About 18 square kilometers (11 square miles) are currently under control of militants in eastern Aleppo, which accounts for about 40 percent of the city's territory, captured by insurgents during the 2012 invasion, a military source told RIA Novosti on Monday.
"If we sum up the preliminary results of the Syrian army offensive, which have taken place in recent weeks in the eastern part of the city, we can say that as of today, we have been able to encircle the militants on the territory of about 18 square kilometers," the source said.
Earlier in the day, the Al-Watan newspaper reported citing its sources that armed groups, encircled in Aleppo, were in secret talks with the Syrian government army on the terms of surrender from the area.
Over recent months, Aleppo became major battleground in Syria, engaging government forces, jihadists, and numerous opposition groups. Eastern Aleppo is currently encircled by government troops, and the fighting has affected thousands of civilians still trapped in the city.
