Reports: Rebels refuse to leave eastern Aleppo

Rebels in Aleppo said they will not leave the areas they hold in the east of the Syrian city as a humanitarian pause announced by Russia aimed at allowing civilians and rebels to depart entered its second day Friday.

Rebels in the city said the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad and its ally Russia aim to clear eastern Aleppo of civilians so they can take control of the entire city, Al Jazeera reported.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said his country was “alarmed” by the refusal of rebels from Jabhat al-Nusra to leave, Russia’s Tass news agency reported.

"By the way, they are not alone as the Ahrar al-Sham group, which our partners view as moderate, is solidarity with al-Nusra,” he added.

Jabhat al-Nusra, one of Syria’s biggest jihadist groups, cut ties with al-Qaeda in July and changed its name to Jabhat Fateh Al-Sham (Conquest of the Syria Front). It said the move was aimed at fostering unity with other rebel groups.

On Thursday, the Associated Press reported that Moscow agreed to extend humanitarian pauses in eastern Aleppo until Monday. However, residents in eastern Aleppo said they fear being arrested by government forces if they evacuate, according to the AP.

The U.N. humanitarian aid agency said Friday that planned medical evacuations from Aleppo did not start as planned because of a lack of security assurances.