Aleppo campaign

Buses loaded with Syrian civilians have begun leaving the last rebel-held enclave of Aleppo again on Dec. 21, after being stalled for a day, a U.N. official and Syrian state TV said. A convoy of 60 buses carrying people had been held up in freezing temperatures on Dec. 21 amid a last-minute hitch. 

Russia said on Oct. 25 that Russian and Syrian military planes had not launched air strikes on Aleppo since Moscow said it was suspending bombing seven days ago, contradicting reports that air strikes in some areas of the city resumed on Oct. 22. 

Syrian government forces backed by Russian airpower and allied militias opened a new front against rebel fighters south of second city Aleppo on Oct. 16.

The fresh offensive came as a monitoring group said that more than 250,000 people have now been killed since the conflict began with anti-government protests in March 2011.