Aleppo Offensive Commenced by Syrian Rebels

Syria and its ally Russia have recently intensified air strikes on the east.

About 275,000 people have been besieged by pro-government forces since September.

Syrian rebels have announced a big offensive aimed at breaking the government siege of rebel-held east Aleppo.

“All the revolutionary factions, without exception, are participating in the battle,” the military spokesman for the Fastaqim faction inside the city.

A UK-based monitoring group said rebels had fired “hundreds” of missiles into western Aleppo, killing at least 15 civilians.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said rebels had fired Grad missiles at al-Nayrab.

They are also reported to have targeted al-Nayrab military airport to the east.

The attacks are so far coming from rebels outside Aleppo, but it is understood that rebels inside the city will join the offensive.