Aleppo evacuation suspended by rebels

A deal to evacuate civilians from the besieged districts of east Aleppo has been suspended and is at risk of unravelling after rebels refused to allow a simultaneous evacuation of the wounded in two pro-government villages that had been part of the agreement.

A source with knowledge of the evacuation deal said it was suspended after the rebels’ refusal to allow the evacuation of the wounded from Fua and Kefraya, the Guardian reports.

About 8,000 people have already been evacuated from east Aleppo under the supervision of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent in buses, ambulances and private cars that left the besieged districts between Thursday and Friday morning.

Buses and ambulances that had been waiting to evacuate more people left the departure zone after gunfire and explosions were heard.