Russian and Syrian jets bomb Aleppo as rebels reportedly capture half of city

Russian and Syrian jets are reportedly bombing rebel fighters who have advanced in and around Aleppo.

Syria's military says it has conducted a "temporary troop withdrawal" to prepare for a counteroffensive against "terrorists".

Opposition fighters opposed to President Bashar al Assad say they have reached the heart of the city following their surprise offensive over the last few days.

Aleppo airport and a number of major roads have been closed.

The rebels, led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al Sham, are said to be in control of around half of Aleppo - Syria's second-largest city - according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

Dozens of Syrian soldiers have been killed in fierce battles in Aleppo and Idlib in the past few days, the, military has said.

Russia, one of President Bashar al Assad's key allies, has promised Damascus extra military aid to thwart the rebels, two military sources told Reuters news agency.

The sources added that the Syrian army had been told to follow "safe withdrawal" orders from the main areas of the city that the rebels have entered.

"Relentless attacks" over the past three days in northwestern Syria have killed 27 civilians, including eight children, a UN official said.

And they have now returned to the Aleppo for the first time since 2016, when Assad and his allies Russia, Iran, and regional Shi'ite militias retook it.

The opposition fighters have said the campaign is in response to stepped-up strikes in recent weeks against civilians by the Russian and Syrian air forces on areas in rebel-held Idlib.

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Opposition sources in touch with Turkish intelligence said Turkey, which supports the rebels, had given a green light to the attacks.

However, Turkish foreign ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli said on Friday that Turkey sought to avoid greater instability in the region and had warned recent attacks undermined de-escalation agreements.

Insurgents have posted videos online showing themselves using drones in their advance for the first time. It is not clear to what extent they were used on the battlefield.

Videos geolocated by Sky News show armoured vehicles on the fringes of Aleppo and rebels celebrating at its western entrance.

Another shows a group of more than 10 men running through the streets. At least one of them appears to be armed.

The Syrian government has not commented on the rebels breaching the city limits.

(c) Sky News 2024: Russian and Syrian jets bomb Aleppo as rebels reportedly capture half of city