Press TV- The residents of Aleppo have taken to the Syrian citys streets to celebrate the imminent official announcement of the citys full liberation from militants.
According to Syrian army officials on Monday, 99 percent of the formerly occupied regions of the city have been recovered by government forces, adding that the army is in the "last moments before declaring victory."
"The battle in eastern Aleppo should end quickly. They (militants) don't have much time. They either have to surrender or die," said Lieutenant General Zaid al-Saleh, the director of the government's Aleppo security committee.
Press TVs correspondent in the city says that there are reports of the complete liberation of Aleppo.
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Supporters of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad carry their national flags as they celebrate what they say is the Syrian army's victory against the militants, in Aleppo, Syria December 12, 2016. (Photo by Reuters)[/caption]Earlier, the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the battle to liberate the city had reached its end and that government forces were making their final advances into the militant-held parts of the city. The battle of Aleppo has reached its end. It is just a matter of a small period of time, no more, no less...," said the groups director, Rami Abdulrahman.
He noted that the militants have now withdrawn from the last six neighborhoods they were using as hideouts in the city.
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A man holds a weapon while touring with others the streets as they celebrate what they say is the Syrian army's victory against the militants, in Aleppo, Syria December 12, 2016.[/caption]Less than a month ago, the Syrian army started a wholesale push to drive the militants out of their stronghold in the citys eastern side, making great strides in the process.
Aleppos complete liberation from the foreign-backed militants would mark a significant victory for Syria in its nearly six-year-long campaign against foreign-backed militants. The liberation of Aleppo would deny the militants their main supply routes across the Turkish border while it would hugely undermine the morale of the militant groups.
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Supporters of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad carry a Syrian national flag with his picture as they celebrate what they say is the Syrian army's victory against the militants, in Aleppo, Syria December 12, 2016.[/caption]Daesh Palmyra offensive Aleppo diversion
Also on Monday, Russian Foreign Minister SergeiLavrovsaid that Daeshs latest attack on Palmyra was apparently launched from Iraqs Mosul from territories patrolled by the aircraft of the US-led coalition." He added this "makes one think that and I really hope to be wrong here -- that it was orchestrated and coordinated to give a respite to those thugs, who are entrenched in eastern Aleppo.
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov gives a press conference following a meeting with his Serbian counterpart in Belgrade on December 12, 2016. (Photo by AFP)[/caption]He noted that the US had been using a conflicting policy towards the terrorists in Syria since the beginning of the conflict some six years ago, by battling Daesh but openly avoiding conflict with other terrorists groups.
There is a significant number of reasons to believe that [Al-Nusra] is being spared as the most effective combat-capable force, which opposes the governmental [forces] of the ground in order to be used for overthrowing the legitimate Syrian government when the time comes, he added.
While admitting that talks between Moscow and Washington over Syria are difficult, Lavrov voiced hopes that the US would stop exonerating the militants and commit to a fundamental agreement based onthe uncompromising struggle against terrorism.
In recent days, Daesh, the most brutal of the terror groups operating in Syria since 2014, has resurfaced in the ancient city of Palmyra in the west-central province of Homs.
The group was driven out of the city back in March after holding it for some 10 months.
Recently, it mobilized more than 4,000 terrorists, according to theofficial Syrian Arab News Agency, re-entering the city of Palmyra amid fierce clashes with the army.
Reports on Sunday morning indicated that Daesh's attempts to re-enter Palmyra had been reversed, but various sources said later in the day that they had managed to force their way back into the city.
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Cardinal Mario Zenari (L) meets the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus on December 12, 2016. (Photo by SANA)[/caption]Assad receives letter from Pope
Syrias President Bashar al-Assadhas received a letter from Pope Francisin which the pontiff voiced his sympathies for the people of Syria over the difficulties they had endured during the countrys years of conflict.
The Vaticans top diplomat inSyria, Cardinal Mario Zenari, delivered the letter personally to Assad on Monday.
In his letter, the Pope condemned all manners of extremism and terrorism across the globe and especially in Syria. He also called for uniting all efforts to end the conflict in the country and to restore peace.
Since March 2011, Syria has been hit by militancy it blames on some Western states and their regional allies. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and UN have put the death toll from the Syria conflict atmore than 300,000 and 400,000, respectively.This is while the UN has stopped its official casualty count in Syria, citing its inability to verify the figures it receives from various sources.
