Thousands of civilians and fighters still waiting to be evacuated from Aleppo – rebel spokesman

AMMAN Thousands of rebels and fighters were still waiting on Thursday to be evacuated from the last rebel bastion in Aleppo city but difficulties including harsh weather were complicating the final phase of the operation, a rebel spokesman said.

Ahmed Kara Ali, the spokesman for the rebel group Ahrar al Sham, which is involved in the negotiations, told Reuters “large numbers” were left but that it was difficult to estimate how many remained, beyond it being in the thousands.

The operation to evacuate civilians and fighters from rebel-held eastern Aleppo has already brought out thousands of people since late last week. But obstacles have disrupted the departure of the last group, with rebels and Iranian backed militias blaming the other for the delays.

(Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Editing by Alison Williams)