Rebel Alliance Breaks Government Siege on Eastern Aleppo

An alliance of rebel factions broke the month-long siege in eastern Aleppo on Saturday, and announced it would launch an offensive to control the entire city, Al Jazeera reported.

The alliance – Jaysh al-Fatah or Army of Conquest – is a coalition of several opposition groups including the faction formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra. On Sunday, the coalition released a statement saying it would double the number of fighters participating in the offensive in order to “liberate all of Aleppo.”

Aleppo has been divided between the rebel-held eastern part and government-held western part since 2012. A government advance in July, backed by Russian airstrikes, cut off the rebels’ last supply route to the eastern part of the city, Castello Road, trapping nearly 300,000 residents inside with no access to aid.

Rebels launched an offensive last week to break the siege, starting at the southwestern outskirts of Aleppo city, then moving northeast to meet fighters in the eastern neighborhoods. Rebels took control of the Ramosa neighborhood, which houses a large government military complex.

The U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said nearly 1.2 million people in Aleppo’s western neighborhoods are now under siege by the rebels, and have no safe routes to leave the city. Continued Russian and Syrian airstrikes in and around Ramosa have prevented civilians from safely leaving. Three vans reportedly from rebel-held Idlib brought in vegetables to the eastern neighborhoods. However, the U.N. and aid groups are still warning food supplies in Aleppo may only last two more weeks.

Syrian Authorities Shoot at Prisoners in Suwayda Prison After Riots

Authorities shot at inmates in Suwayda prison on Friday night after riots at the site in southern Syria, Middle East Eye reported.

Nearly 1,100 inmates, 750 of them political detainees, are reportedly being held in Suwayda. On Thursday authorities tried to transfer three prisoners for execution in Damascus, reportedly triggering a riot. Prisoners broke out of their cells, took control of the prison and and took three police officers hostage.

Negotiations with prison authorities later that afternoon ended the riots. On Friday, however, authorities reportedly shot live fire and tear gas at inmates, wounding at least six. One prisoner told Middle East Eye three of the wounded were hit in the chest and stomach and urgently needed medical care.

More than 200,000 people have been detained since 2011 by Syrian authorities, and nearly 60,000 have died under torture or inhumane conditions, according to the SOHR.

Airstrikes on Hospital Kill at Least 10 in Idlib Province

Four airstrikes targeted a hospital in rebel-held Idlib province on Saturday, killing at least 10 people, Al Jazeera reported.

Three children and four women were among those killed in the air raid on the hospital in Meles, a town 9 miles (15km) from Idlib city.

It was not clear whether the airstrikes were carried out by Russian or Syrian warplanes, the SOHR said.

Doctors told Al Jazeera the hospital used to serve 70,000 people, but is now completely out of service. Another hospital was reportedly targeted in the town of Sarmin, also in Idlib province.

July was the worst month for attacks on Syria’s healthcare sector since the conflict began, according to the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS). “There were 43 attacks on healthcare facilities in Syria in July – more than one attack every day,” a statement said.

Recommended Reads

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• The Wall Street Journal: Syria Regime Drafts Prisoners, Teachers to Bolster Depleted Army
• Radio Free Europe: In Syria, Rebel Victories at Ramouseh Come With a Price
• The National: Death of a Syrian Arms Salesman
• The New York Times: Military Success in Syria Gives Putin Upper Hand in U.S. Proxy War