Advertisement

  1. National

Aleppo evacuation operation 'in last stages'

The evacuation of civilians and rebels from eastern Aleppo is in its "last stages," the International Committee of the Red Cross has said.

Around 34,000 people have been evacuated in the week-long rescue operation.

Over 4,000 rebel fighters left between Wednesday and Thursday to rebel-held western rural Aleppo, as per an agreement reached with the government.

Thousands are expected to be evacuated as the rescue operation continues throughout Friday, a Red Cross spokeswoman said.

View all 146 updates ›

'4,500 people evacuated from east Aleppo since midnight'

Evacuees from rebel-held east Aleppo arrive at the town of al-Rashideen on Monday. Credit: Reuters

Some 12,000 people have been evacuated from east Aleppo in the past few days, according to Turkey's foreign ministry.

The figure includes 4,500 civilians who have managed to leave the city since midnight.

Mevlut Cavusoglu said: "Including 4,500 people in east Aleppo since midnight, 12,000 civilians in total were evacuated so far to the area under control of opposition."

The evacuations are the result of intense negotiations between Turkey - which backs some large rebel groups - and Russia, who support President Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria.

More on this story