Assad forces make gains in rebel-held east Aleppo

Regime forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad took control of the Hanano district in eastern Aleppo, according to a report in Reuters.

The regime made gains on rebel-held eastern Aleppo through airstrikes and ground forces, following 12 days of its latest push to take over parts of the city.

“Engineering teams are removing mines and improvised explosive devices planted by terrorists in the squares and streets,” the Syrian army said in a statement, according to Reuters.

The news outlet noted that the regime calls all opposition forces terrorists.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 201 civilians had been killed in the eastern part of Aleppo since the regime launched its latest air campaign.

The Observatory also said 19 civilians died in the western part of the city held by regime forces, due to shelling from opposition groups. The Syrian state news agency said three people were killed and 15 wounded in the western side of the city.

Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that the rest of the functioning hospitals in eastern Aleppo had been shut down following bombing from the Syrian regime and Russian forces. 

The Assad regime, embroiled in a civil war since 2011, has been targeting the eastern half of the city with help from Russian forces since July.