The Syrian government has lost control of Aleppo for the
first time since the start of the countries 13 year
old war after Islamic rebel fighters advanced and captured most
of the city over the weekend.
Let's turn to NBC Claudia Lavanga for more.
Good morning, Claudia.
Good morning, Francis.
That's right.
The rebels launched that surprise attack on Saturday and they
quickly took control of vast amounts of territory expansion different
in different provinces, especially in the north and northwest of
the country and now including the city of Aleppo, which
is Syria's Syria's second largest city.
Well, now their gains continued on Sunday, at least according
to the Syrian Human Rights Organization, which is a an
independent war monitor.
They also the rebels also took control of the International
Airport of Aleppo on Sunday and also of the Military
Academy.
2 very strategic targets of course, and now they are
in believed to be in control of most of the
city, if not all of the city.
In the meantime, the government troops that are loyal to
President Bashar al-Assad have been trying to repel the rebels
by rushing through reinforcements or launching air strikes on the
territories that have been conquered by the rebels, including the
city of Aleppo, where reportedly dozens of civilians have been
killed.
Now, some of those air strikes, at least according to
the war monitor, have been carried out by Russian fighter
jets.
So once again, as it has happened since the start
of the civil war in 2011, 2011, Syria has asked
Russia for help in taking control its territory, to the
point that Russia now is even concerned that they may
not be able to because Dmitry Desk of the Kremlin
spokesperson said openly or urged openly the Syrian government to
take control, to take back control quickly.
Francis Claudia Lavanga.
Claudia, thank you.