Syrian Army Fighting to Liberate Last Stronghold of Rebels in Western Aleppo

The Syrian government forces opened fire on the militants' positions in the Rashideen district of western Aleppo in an attempt to liberate the rebels' last stronghold in the area, media reported Saturday.

DAMASCUS (Sputnik) — The Syrian army and militia units began the operation on Saturday morning after retaking the district of al-Assad and the settlement of Minian, according to the Lebanon-based Al Mayadeen satellite television channel.

The government forces clashed with the members of the Jaish al-Fatah alliance, which includes the Jabhat Fatah al-Sham group, formerly known as al-Nusra Front terrorist group, with the army simultaneously shelling the militants' positions, the broadcaster reported.

The Syrian Armed Forces began a large-scale military operation in Aleppo after the September truce brokered by Russian and the United States lasted less than a week.

A violent conflict between the forces loyal to President Bashar Assad and opposition factions as well as terrorist groups has been raging in Syria for more than five years.