Reports | 25 05 2020
Russian warplanes intensified their air strikes today, Thursday, on the city of Aleppo and on the towns and villages in the eastern and southern parts of rural Aleppo, while the armed opposition has made progress in the town of Khan Touman after fierce battles against the regime’s army.
Medical sources told Rozana that more than 40 civilians, including children, were killed when, around noon, the Russian air force targeted the neighborhoods of al-Mashhad, al-Fardos, al-Shaar, al-Kallasah, Biedin, al-Haydariya, and Tareeq al-Baab.
The sources also pointed out that the number of deaths is on the rise, since many of the wounded are in critical condition. Field hospitals announced their urgent need for all types of blood, and called on civilians to donate blood as soon as possible. The bombing has also destroyed tens of residential buildings, shops, and cars, and caused fire damage in many different areas.
After breaking the siege that had been imposed by opposition groups on the towns of Nubbul and al-Zahraa, and reestablishing its presence in northern, rural Aleppo, the regime's army is seeking to encircle the city [the opposition-controlled part of Aleppo], and cut off all of the opposition’s supply routes. Supported by its allies, the regime forces are now getting closer to imposing a tight siege on the area, which is home to nearly 400,000 people. This progress on the regime’s part, has led to tens of families fleeing from their neighborhoods.
Clashes between the regime troops, backed by foreign fighters, and the opposition fighters continued for a long time on the outskirts of the villages of Bashkoy and Hardtnin, and due to the heavy bombing by the Russian air force, the opposition forces were forced to withdraw from the town of Mayer on Thursday morning, which allowed the regime forces to take control of the town.
News has spread that the Kurdish People’s Protection Units has gained control over al-Zahraa’s neighboring villages of al-Ziyara and al-Khreiba in northern, rural Aleppo. The opposition’s armed factions have neither confirmed nor denied the news yet.
After fierce battles against the regime forces, and despite the heavy presence of Russian reconnaissance aircrafts, on Wednesday night, the armed opposition groups gained control over the village of al-Khaldiya on the outskirts of the town of Khan Touman in southern, rural Aleppo.