The United Nations’ humanitarian chief Stephen O’Brien urged the Security Council to take urgent action to assist the people of the rebel-held eastern Aleppo, as the Syrian military together with its allies, continues to advance and gain territory. “For the sake of humanity we call on – we plead – with the parties and those with influence to do everything in their power to protect civilians and enable access to the besieged part of eastern Aleppo before it becomes one giant graveyard,” said O’Brien.
Western-backed rebels, fighting alongside al-Qaeda linked Jihadists, vowed to fight on in east-Aleppo in the face of the advance by the Syrian military. Nevertheless, the gains by the Syrian army and its allies since last week have brought whole districts back under government control and led to a human exodus, as thousands of residents have fled their pulverized neighborhoods near the rapidly shifting front lines. As Syria stepped up its air-raids on rebel positions in eastern-Aleppo, it has brought about a strong condemnation by the United States. Ambassador Samantha Power stressed the bombardment was the most extreme since the start of the conflict, with no regard for the safeguarding of innocent civilians.
“When it seemed impossible to imagine a more horrific situation, in fact the crisis got worse. The past five days have witnessed one of the most extreme bombardments of civilian areas in the entire life of the conflict, ravaging what was left in the once majestic eastern part of Aleppo. The objective is simple – to take eastern Aleppo by force with no regard for the consequences it may have for innocent civilians,” said Samantha power, US Ambassador to the UN.
Russia rejected the American condemnation, stressing the aerial operation in east Aleppo was justified as there was no alternative in combating the Jihadists operating in the area. “Mr. President, we share the grave concerns of the plight of civilians in east Aleppo, but easing their suffering won’t happen by ceasing the counter terrorist operation. Leaving Syria and Iraq a terrorist caliphate and calling for humanism for terrorists is no alternative,” said Vitaly Churkin, Russian Ambassador to the UN.
Even though the rebel groups and Jihadists vowed not to surrender; Russia, Assad’s most powerful international ally whose air force has pounded rebel groups for more than a year, said it hoped the Aleppo situation could be resolved by the end of the year. For the mostly Sunni Muslim rebel groups, the fall of Aleppo would deprive them of their last big foothold in a major city, a major loss that would signal the beginning of the end for the armed rebellion.