Regime captures 60 percent of East Aleppo

The Army loyal to Bashar al-Assad has heavily been bombarding the eastern section of the city for weeks, intending to capture it to the last street. The opposition has lost 60 percent of the lands that they had once overseen, London-based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR) said.

Following this statement, the Free Syrian Army (FSA) said they have reclaimed some areas of Karm al-Myasser district.

Since the beginning of the regime's heightened assault on Aleppo on Nov.15, at least 750 civilians were killed and around 50,000 others were displaced. The population of the eastern sector, what was thought to be around 300,000 before the siege, is reduced to nearly 200,000.

On the other hand, the army is projecting to take control of the whole city within weeks, an army official loyal to the Syrian regime said to Reuters.

Meanwhile, Russia, the greatest backer of the Syrian regime, stated on Saturday that they were ready to discuss the terms of the FSA's withdrawal from Aleppo with the opposition leaders in Washington. But opponents have ruled out all possibilities regarding the retreat in their statement.

Opposition now unified in one force

Defeated by Assad's army, opponents have been unified under a single command to repel the overwhelming assault of the regime forces. For the new formation, called the Army of Aleppo, Abu Abd al-Rahman was chosen as the general commander and Abu Bashir Amara was assigned the military commander.

The FSA's representatives are negotiating with Russia in Ankara, attempting to defuse the severity in Aleppo with Turkey's efforts to conciliate.

However, Russia's approach towards the opposition is reportedly uncompromising up until now.

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday signaled the resilience of the Russian side.

''In the talks between Russia and the U.S., the timing and the route for the withdrawal of the opposition from East Aleppo will be determined. Then, a ceasefire will be announced so the FSA can retreat. Those who don't accept the withdrawal agreement will be treated as terrorists and we will support the Syrian regime in its fight against them,'' he said.