30 September 2016, 18:51 GMT
ALEPPO (Sputnik) — The supply of fresh water to the Syrian city of Aleppo has been suspended due to heavy fighting between militants and government forces near a water pumping station in the eastern Suleiman al-Halabi district, a pro-government militia member said Saturday.
"There have been airstrikes in Suleiman al-Halabi in the area of the water pumping station. Engineers cannot perform work there now, as the front line passes nearby and the militants are keeping the station under heavy fire," the militia representative told RIA Novosti.
On Friday, the Syrian army began to advance from the government-held district of Midan into Suleiman al-Halabi. Several residential buildings have been captured and fierce fighting continues.
Fighting in Aleppo has escalated over the past few weeks, with the Syrian army and local militia forces having managed to encircle large groups of militants in eastern districts of Aleppo. Government troops began to advance after the September 12 ceasefire collapsed. Syria and Russia have stressed that the militants did not observe the ceasefire, while the United States failed to distinguish terrorists from moderate opposition groups.
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition groups, as well as terrorist formations.
