Centrum Stosunków Międzynarodowych - 11 August 2016: Fighting in Aleppo intensifies amidst chemical weapons use accusations

The fighting in Aleppo continues in the wake of a recent rebel offensive that, on Saturday, August 6, has succeeded in breaking the government siege of eastern part of the city, inhabited by about 300,000 people. Moreover, as a result, the main supply route to government-controlled Western Aleppo, inhabited by about 1.2 million people, has been broken. Both sides are now reinforcing their positions, which results in intense clashes and increased civilian casualties. Rescuers in Eastern Aleppo have also reported a chemical attack that claimed 3 dead.

The current military situation in Aleppo substantially hinders supplying both parts of the city. The corridor opened by the recent opposition is under heavy fire, while Western Aleppo needs to be supplied by an alternative, less effective route after the main one was severed. The damage to water network has stopped water supply throughout the city. At the same time the government forces are regularly bombarding hospitals in Eastern Aleppo. The UN special envoy, Staffan de Mistura, has called for a 48 hour ceasefire, but the Russian Ministry of Defence only agrees to 3 hour humanitarian pauses.

According to rescuers operating in Eastern Aleppo, on Wednesday, August 10, government forces have dropped a chlorine filled container on Zubdiya district, killing a woman with two children and poisoning at least 25 people. This is yet another report of chemical weapons use in recent weeks despite the official destruction of stockpile of such weapons in January 2016. In turn, the government forces and Russia accuse rebels of having performed a chemical attack on western districts of Aleppo on August 2.