Syrian government forces lay siege on Aleppo once again

Syrian government troops on Sunday seized a military academy south of Aleppo city, once again encircling the rebel-held districts in the east and placing them under siege, a monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, said government forces backed by Syrian and Russian air strikes had now severed the alternate route into the rebel east that opposition forces opened up in August.

“The army took control of the artillery academy, so they control all the academies, and the eastern neighbourhoods are under a full siege,” said Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman.

There was no immediate confirmation in state media.