Russian declared ceasefire in Aleppo collapses

A unilateral ceasefire that was announced last week by Russia has ended as the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has said that fighting and air strikes resumed on Saturday Night.

According to the Observatory, air strikes hit front lines in the south west of the city on Saturday, with clashes between government troops and rebel fighters reported in rebel-held eastern districts of Aleppo.

The UN said a lack of security guarantees had prevented it from carrying out medical evacuations from the city and there are concerns that aid intended for Aleppo did not reach the city during the 3-day ceasefire.

The government has urged citizens to leave the city through humanitarian corridors however rebel officials have told Reuters that the few people who did try to leave through the corridor were faced with shelling and could not leave.

The city has experienced heavy fighting since the civil war erupted and is currently occupied by government forces in the west, and rebel forces in the east.

Despite the ceasefire, night-time clashes have taken place at the end of each day, however Saturday saw a relative escalation in fighting as well as a number of air strikes.

Rebels did not accept the ceasefire, which they say does nothing to alleviate the situation of those who choose to remain in rebel-held eastern Aleppo, and believe it is part of a government policy to purge cities of political opponents.