Syrian regime forces were on the verge of seizing a major opposition-held district of Aleppo on Tuesday (December 6th) after retaking control of about two-thirds of the city's east in recent days, AFP reported.
As regime forces advanced in the large residential district of Shaar, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said opposition forces will be reduced to a "war of attrition" with the regime if the district is retaken.
"It is the most important neighbourhood in the heart of east Aleppo, and is on the brink of falling," said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman, adding that regime forces are already in control of about a third of the district.
The regime's rapid gains have left opposition fighters scrambling to defend the shrinking enclave they still control in Aleppo's south-eastern districts.
The regime said Tuesday it would not agree to a ceasefire in Aleppo unless it guarantees a full withdrawal of opposition factions from the city.
