Syria regains control of refugee camp north of Aleppo
Syrian soldiers, backed by pro-government fighters, have re-established control over a camp north of the embattled city of Aleppo after briefly losing it to foreign-backed militants following its liberation last week.
Militants and a monitoring group confirmed that the Syrian army and its allies captured the Handarat refugee camp following three days of heavy fighting with terrorists, adding that clashes were underway in the area.
Syrian armed forces had gained control over the camp on Saturday, but it later fell to the so-called Fastaqim terrorist group.
The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group which advocates the militants, also confirmed that government forces are now in control of the camp.
Handarat’s liberation is of high significance to the Syrian army as it facilitates the return of thousands of displaced Palestinian refugees to their homes there after over four years of violence in Aleppo.
On Thursday, Sergei Ryabkov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister, rejected US calls for a seven-day truce, saying such a pause in military operations would give militants enough time to regroup. Instead, he proposed a two-day ceasefire to facilitate the flow of relief aid into Aleppo.
Militants have suffered major setbacks over the past few months as the Syrian army, backed by Russian air cover, has managed to wrest control over several important areas across the country.
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