The Syrian military said on Thursday a unilateral ceasefire had come into force to allow rebels to leave the besieged eastern part of Aleppo city. The rebels said the ceasefire was part of a psychological campaign to make them surrender. Intensified Russian and Syrian bombing of besieged rebel-held parts of Aleppo have knocked down scores of hospitals, bakeries and water pumping stations in an offensive that has killed hundreds of civilians in the past few weeks. But rebels say the goal of Moscow and Bashar al-Assad’s government is to empty rebel-held parts of civilians so they can take over the whole city. | Natalie Nougayrède Read moreThe rebels say they are preparing a large-scale offensive to break the siege of Aleppo and say the Russian air force has failed, despite a relentless bombing campaign.

Source: The Guardian October 20, 2016 00:55 UTC