Aleppo (Syria) (AFP) – Syrian opposition fighters have begun an assault on government forces to break a months-long siege of the rebel-held neighbourhoods of eastern Aleppo city, a rebel spokesman told AFP.

Rebel groups “announce the start of the battle to break the siege of Aleppo, which will end the regime occupation of western Aleppo and break the siege on the people trapped inside,” said Abu Yusef Muhajir, a military commander and spokesman for the powerful Ahrar al-Sham rebel group.