Former Militants' Stronghold in E Aleppo Returning to Normal Life - Source

The situation in Masaken Hanano neighborhood in eastern Aleppo in Syria has normalized, a source in local militia told RIA Novosti Thursday.

DAMASCUS (Sputnik) — The Masaken Hanano neighborhood in eastern Aleppo in Syria, which was besieged by radical opposition groups and liberated by government forces, has started to return to normal life, a source in local militia told RIA Novosti Thursday.

On November 26, the Syrian armed forces along with patriotic militias established a full control over Masaken Hanano district, which leads on the way to other eastern districts controlled by rebels. On November 27, the Syrian army liberated the next eastern district of Jabal Badro.

"Repair crews have already arrived in the area to assess the damage. Public utilities expect to establish a fresh water supply and restore a supply of electricity within a few days. Civilians are full of determination to start everything with a clean slate despite of a dire state of property," the source said.

Over the recent months, Aleppo has been a major battleground in Syria, engaging government forces, jihadists, and numerous opposition groups. Eastern Aleppo is held by militants, encircled by government forces, and the fighting has affected thousands of civilians still trapped in the city.

In November, the Syrian government forces supported by local militias launched a large-scale offensive against extremist groups, mainly Jabhat Fatah al Sham (also known as the Nusra Front, or Jabhat al-Nusra) in the eastern part of Aleppo.

Between 200,000 and 300,000 civilians are still held by terrorists in the eastern neighborhoods, according to Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien.