Syria army 're-imposes siege' on rebel-held eastern Aleppo

Syrian state media said on Sunday that the army and allied forces had re-taken a key area south of Aleppo captured by rebels last month, severing the sole route left into the eastern neighbourhoods held by the rebels.

"Full control was established over the Armament Academy after eliminating all the hotbeds of the 'terrorists 'in it," state media said, citing an unnamed military source.

It added that the advance had "[blocked] all movements and supply routes of terrorist organisations from the southern countryside towards the eastern neighbourhoods and al-Ramouseh."

The reimposed siege leaves about 250,000 people living in rebel-controlled parts of the city cut off from the outside world once again, and will raise new fears about a humanitarian crisis in Aleppo.

Once Syria's economic powerhouse, the city has been ravaged by the war that began with anti-government protests in March 2011.

It has been roughly divided between government control in the west and rebel control in the east since mid-2012, but in recent months regime forces slowly began to encircle the east.

In July, they severed the only road into the rebel neighbourhoods, the key Castello Road running from the Turkish border in the north, creating food and fuel shortages in the east.

The siege prompted international concern, with aid agencies urging 48-hour ceasefires to ensure humanitarian access.

In early August, rebel forces including al-Qaeda's former Syrian affiliate battled regime forces south of the city to open a new route to the east, through the al-Ramouseh district.

But in recent days regime forces backed by Syrian and Russian warplanes launched an intense counter-offensive on the al-Ramouseh route.

Earlier on Sunday, Russia reportedly backtracked on previously agreed deals with the US, delaying an agreement on stemming the violence in Syria.

The US said it had not yet agreed on a deal it hoped for with Russia on stemming the violence in Syria, including Aleppo, blaming Moscow for "walking back" on issues.