ALEPPO (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, media reported, citing militant sources, that the sides, mediated by Russia and Iran, had reached an agreement to complete the evacuation from the areas still under militant control. The evacuation deal involved letting civilians leave in exchange for a partial evacuation of several besieged government-held towns in other parts of the country.
"Talks on withdrawing the last group of militants from Aleppo have resumed with the terrorists," the source told RIA Novosti.
16 December 2016, 11:55 GMT
On Friday, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that Aleppo was now under full government control with the Syrian army operation to retake the eastern districts completed. Civilians and militants were leaving the city amid a ceasefire agreement between the remaining pockets of resistance and government forces.
The city became a major battleground over recent months as battles raged on between the government-held western zone and militant-controlled eastern districts.
