Alalam - Syria

The forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have pressed ahead with their offensive in Aleppo with ground fighting and air strikes, in an attack aimed at retaking the city's besieged rebel-held areas, Reuters reported.

There were no reports the Syrian army had made significant gains.

The video footage shows explosions and smoke rising from semi-destroyed buildings as well as tanks and heavy weapons firing.

The Syrian government now appears closer to victory than at any point in the five years since protests against Assad evolved into an armed rebellion.

Rebel leaders have given no sign they are about to withdraw as the civilian population is squeezed into an ever-decreasing area.

Russian Defence Ministry official Sergei Rudskoi said on Friday up to 10,500 Syrian citizens had fled parts of east Aleppo still controlled by rebels in the last 24 hours.

This could not be independently verified.

Syrian government and allied forces have in the last two weeks driven rebels from most of their territory in what was once Syria's most populous city.

The rebels have controlled the eastern section since 2012.

SA