Hundreds Leave Eastern Aleppo

Despite the evacuation of Aleppo being halted once again, reports indicate that "Turkey and Russia's efforts" have allowed "hundreds" to exit the rebel-held eastern areas of the city. Ahmad al-Dabees, a doctor managing a team of aid workers in eastern Aleppo, told AFP early Monday that "buses carrying some residents of eastern Aleppo have left the besieged areas." He later stated that up to 1,200 people have successfully exited. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates that around 500 people have left so far. Robert Mardini of the International Committee of the Red Cross also previously tweeted that five buses and one ambulance have left eastern Aleppo. Mardini expressed hope that the evacuation operations would resume smoothly. Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights noted that these individuals were able to leave the besieged areas after Russia and Turkey requested the Assad government to allow them to pass through the last checkpoint. Russia, alongside Iran, is considered one of Bashar al-Assad's main supporters, while Turkey supports some of Assad's opponents. The evacuation of Aleppo has been delayed despite initial agreements, reportedly due to the evacuation of the besieged Shia areas of Kafraya and Fua. While it was expected that the evacuation of people from Aleppo, Kafraya, and Fua would take place yesterday, reports emerged that armed men had set fire to five buses dispatched to the Shia villages. Following this, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that the buses sent to the rebel areas in Aleppo would not leave until the residents of Fua and Kafraya could exit. Simultaneously, the Associated Press reported that France and Russia have reached "agreements" regarding a vote in the Security Council on a draft resolution to send UN observers to Aleppo, with the vote scheduled for Monday. The Syrian civil war is on the brink of entering its sixth year. This war began after the severe crackdown on largely peaceful protests against Bashar al-Assad and has turned into a deadly conflict. It is estimated that nearly half a million people have lost their lives in the fighting, and half of the country's population has been displaced.