AlMasdarNews reports: During the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) capture of the Hanano district in northeastern Aleppo on Saturday, around 600 local residents were able to escape rebel-held Aleppo.
Although several instances of small groups enduring the same journey have surfaced in recent weeks, this marks the first large batch of civilians who have safely reached government-held Aleppo safely. On Tuesday, 48 civilians also left rebel-held districts.
The Russian Ministry of Defence has accused Islamist rebels of using Aleppo’s civilians as human shields, denying locals access to the newly established humanitarian corridors.
In one case earlier today, a Syrian soldier was reunited with his family for the first time since the summer of 2012:
Syrian soldier Meet his family in hanano house for first time since 4 years pic.twitter.com/EwvOnMS6ho
— Yusha Yuseef (@MIG29_) November 26, 2016
Estimates vairy greatly regarding the civilian population in rebel-held districts of Aleppo; between 40,000 and 275,000 civilians are said to be trapped inside the rebel pocket.
“Civilians”? Are you sure?