70,000 Syrians flee Russian, regime attacks on Aleppo

By Selen Temizer

ANKARA

Russian airstrikes and Syrian regime attacks have forced around 70,000 people to flee their homes in the northern city of Aleppo, according to local sources.

Intensive Russian raids have forced around 40,000 Syrians to desert their villages in Aleppo and moved toward the northwestern town of Azaz near the Turkish border, the sources said.

More than 30,000 Syrians have also fled their homes in Aleppo's western countryside, fearing attacks by Russian warplanes and regime forces.

Observers believe that regime forces, backed by Russian airstrikes, are seeking to impose a blockade on Aleppo -- Syria's largest city -- amid fears that this will force tens of thousands of civilians out of their homes.

Syria has remained locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011 when the regime of President Bashar al-Assad cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.

Since then, more than 250,000 people have been killed and more than 10 million displaced, according to figures released by the UN.

By Selen Temizer

ANKARA

Russian airstrikes and Syrian regime attacks have forced around 70,000 people to flee their homes in the northern city of Aleppo, according to local sources.

Intensive Russian raids have forced around 40,000 Syrians to desert their villages in Aleppo and moved toward the northwestern town of Azaz near the Turkish border, the sources said.

More than 30,000 Syrians have also fled their homes in Aleppo's western countryside, fearing attacks by Russian warplanes and regime forces.

Syria has remained locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011 when the regime of President Bashar al-Assad cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.

Since then, more than 250,000 people have been killed and more than 10 million displaced, according to figures released by the UN.