Local media says insurgents have formed a so-called "military government" in rebel-held Aleppo and imposed a curfew, prompting thousands of residents to flee in search of safety. CGTN’s Ray Addison reports.
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00:00In Syria, the death toll is rising. The United Nations says dozens of civilians have been
00:06killed, including women and children, with claims that both government and rebel forces
00:12are responsible. The Syrian opposition-run rescue service known as the White Helmets
00:17said warplanes had hit residential areas of Aleppo, along with medical facilities and
00:23a displaced people's camp in Idlib province, resulting in several fatalities, including
00:29children. Drone footage they released showed smoke rising and damage over the Idlib University
00:35hospital. In rebel-held Aleppo, Syrian local media says insurgents have formed a so-called
00:42military government and imposed a curfew, prompting thousands of residents to flee in
00:47search of safety.
00:50It's dangerous to escape now because people have to take another unsafe route where there
00:54may be snipers at any time, especially after the anti-government forces recently took control
01:00of the area.
01:01Meanwhile, a food crisis is looming in the city as residents struggle to snap up essential
01:07supplies amid the ongoing conflict. The UN says more than 48,000 people have been displaced
01:13in the country so far, and key infrastructure, including schools and water stations, have
01:19been damaged as the fighting continues.
01:23Rebels have already captured a swathe of land across the north-west of the country
01:28and say they're making further gains. However, the Syrian government says it has killed hundreds
01:33of fighters in recent days. The country's state news agency says the army is reinforcing
01:39defensive lines in the countryside surrounding the central city of Hama ahead of a planned
01:45attack.
01:46Meanwhile, sources say at least 300 Iran-backed Iraqi fighters have now crossed into Syria
01:53to support the military. Troops such as these proved key to the success of pro-government
01:58forces when rebels rose up against President Bashar al-Assad in 2011. However, with Russian
02:05support stretched due to the conflict in Ukraine and Hezbollah's leadership in Lebanon refusing
02:11to send troops, it remains to be seen what impact they will have.
02:16Ray Addison, CGTN.