Last Minute Aleppo Evacuation Is Agreed

Overnight talks have reinforced a ceasefire deal to allow Syrian rebels and tens of thousands of civilians to leave the war-torn eastern city of Aleppo, the media arm of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group has said.

It says Syrian rebels will probably begin leaving their last holdout in the city "in the coming hours".

The announcement by Hezbollah's Military Media came after the ceasefire deal, mediated by Ankara and Moscow, unravelled amid fighting the previous day. 

Shiite Hezbollah militiamen are fighting in the Syrian civil war on the side of President Bashar Assad's forces.

Damascus and its allies have not commented on the ceasefire being back on. 

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the fighting stopped in the city at around 4am local time.

Meanwhile, a Syrian army official confirmed all was ready for rebels and civilians to start leaving Aleppo "at any moment".

According to the Guardian, wounded and unwounded civilians were expected to begin leaving the rebel-held area at 6am, though as of four hours later, evacuation teams hadn't crossed the city into the opposition-held area.

More: 'End Of Aleppo Ceasefire Scuppers Civilian Evacuation'

Yesterday, a Government minister said evidence is being gathered to ensure those responsible for atrocities committed in Aleppo will "in time" be brought to justice.

Lord Bates told peers, based on what had so far been witnessed, there was "no question" international law had been breached in the conflict-ravaged Syrian city, which he described as a "humanitarian catastrophe".

Lord Bates (image: Foreign and Commonwealth Office)

The international development minister also expressed "great concern" the slaughter seen in Aleppo could be repeated in other besieged areas of the country.

Lord Bates highlighted the "menacing pledge" by the Syrian president Bashar Assad to take the fight to other cities once Aleppo had been retaken.

He was speaking as tens of thousands of civilians remained trapped in the eastern part of the besieged city after a ceasefire broke down and pro-Assad forces resumed their bombardment.

A series of peers in the House of Lords pressed the Government over steps being taken by the UK to deal with the unfolding tragedy.

The concerns raised included UN reports that women and children had been among those shot dead in premeditated massacres. Lord Bates told peers: 

"Aleppo is a humanitarian catastrophe. We are providing food, shelter, blankets and health care to fleeing civilians through UN and NGO partners, but the regime is preventing aid reaching those still trapped... It is paramount that aid agencies get access to save lives and protect civilians".

Baroness Symons (image: Foreign and Commonwealth Office)

Pressed by Labour peer Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean over what steps were being taken to assist civilians, Lord Bates highlighted the "complexities and difficulties" faced but said diplomatic efforts were continuing. He said: 

"This is a human conflict between human actors and it is within human hands for it to be resolved and stopped and that's what we are urging".

Labour peer Lord Collins of Highbury said: 

"Children and families are suffering. What we need is evidence from this government that they are going to seek international cooperation, especially through the UN, for protection, evacuation, aid and not least evidence. Because there is clear evidence of war crimes being committed and this government must commit to those four things."

Lord Bates said: "We are collecting the evidence and other agencies on the ground."

Problems of access on the ground made it difficult to obtain credible information, but he added: 

"There's no question that on the basis of the evidence at the moment, there is a prima facie case that what we are witnessing here is a breach of international humanitarian law, a breach of the Geneva Convention and the people who are responsible will in time be brought to justice."

Given what was happening in Aleppo, Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Northover asked what was being done to ensure civilians in the 16 other besieged areas in Syria "aren't also subjected to surrender and slaughter" and asked if Aleppo was going to be a precedent. Lord Bates said that there was a huge concern that it would be.

Lord Campell (image: Steve Punter)

Liberal Democrat former leader Lord Campbell of Pittenweem referred to the decision by Britain not to carry out air strikes in Syria in 2013 - a move seen by many as pivotal in allowing Russia to intervene and shape the conflict:

"There's a strong argument that the inaction of the United Kingdom and United States in 2013 created a vacuum. But the existence of a vacuum exploited by Russia, can never justify the indiscriminate bombing by Russian aircraft flown by Russian pilots, by Russian aircraft flown by Syrian pilots, of children, of hospitals and of refugees. This is wholly contrary to the Geneva Conventions".

He sought assurances from the minister that "everything will be done to seek out those responsible and to ensure that they are brought to justice".

Cover image: Syrian Child Refugee, arrives with other migrants in Serbia (Freedom House)

More: ''Aleppo Can't Become Another Srebrenica'