A member of the Syrian pro-government forces stands in front of the historic citadel in the Bab al-Hadid neighbourhood, in Aleppo's Old City, on December 8, 2016, after taking control of the area. President Bashar al-Assad said victory for his forces in Aleppo would be a "huge step" in ending Syria's war, as government troops battled to retake more rebel ground. Regime forces have retaken about 80 percent of former rebel territory in Aleppo since launching an all-out offensive three weeks ago to recapture Syria's second city. / AFP / GEORGE OURFALIAN / ALTERNATIVE CROP (Photo credit should read GEORGE OURFALIAN/AFP/Getty Images)
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AFP GEORGE OURFALIAN