A Free Syrian Army tank firing during a heavy battle to break the siege of Aleppo

Aleppo, Syria, August 7, 2016. Syrian rebels have broken through the besieged areas of Aleppo on Saturday, thus breaking a government siege that started last month. Opposition began the offensive on Friday against the government’s Ramosa military complex, which includes a number of military colleges. After months of intense fighting against government forces and Russian airstrikes, rebel forces have not only broken the siege, but also captured a key military base used by the regime to maintain the siege and hence gained access to weapons and artillery stored in the base.

The Syrian army has acknowledged that the siege of Aleppo has been broken and regime forces have retreated to new defence lines south-west of Aleppo. Although it is unclear whether the opposition’s advances will hold, the at least temporary break of the blockade of Aleppo represents a symbolic and strategic victory against President Bashar al-Assad’s forces.

Yousef Hammud, the deputy leader of the Mujahedeen Army, has spoken to Images Live about the breakthrough in the Syrian conflict after the conquering of the Al-Castelo road, the vital artery for the city of Aleppo, by Syrian regime forces. The offensive had been undertaken in his view to starve and intimidate the people in Aleppo and in order to achieve political and military objectives. He explains that during the recent days of heavy fighting in Aleppo, the city has been subjected to more than 300 air strikes causing a great number of casualties among women and children. More than 800 raids were also carried out against the al-Ramosa military base, and during the raids internationally banned ammunitions such as cluster bombs and chlorine drums were used. He also added that with the breaking of the blockade, ammunitions have be transported into Aleppo; and that work is currently underway to liberate the airforce institute and a cement plant factory.

Heavy bombardment of rebel positions is still taking place in different districts of Aleppo, as well as in other towns under the control of the rebels. Images Live confirms that a bombardment early this morning in the town of Darat Izza in the northwest of Aleppo has caused a number of casualties among civilians.

Aleppo has been divided since 2012, with the government forces occupying the west part of the city and the rebel fighters holding the east. Aleppo had recently become the main last rebel’s urban stronghold and had turned into an extremely fierce battleground between rebels group and Syrian government forces in the last few days.

Photographer: Louai Barakat/Images Live

Report: Tina Lozio/Images Live