Militants cut Aleppo water supplies

Foreign-backed militants in Syria’s northern city of Aleppo have cut water supplies into the city, leaving residents without water for a week.

The al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front has reportedly cut water supplies into eastern part of the city, which is under the control of militants, and government-controlled west of the city.

The cut had forced people to queue in front of wells for collecting water, with reports saying that some people were drinking unclean water.

Militants also cut the electricity supply to government-held areas of the city and the nearby neighborhoods last month.

At least one million people have left Aleppo, Syria’s second city, following the ongoing conflict in the Arab country.

Cutting off water supplies came as Syrian military forces have conducted a number of major operations around Aleppo in a bid to entirely drive the foreign-backed militants out of the area.

Military sources have reported steady advances by government forces in recent days while killing or injuring a large number of the militants.

On May 7, al-Nusra militants blocked a relief aid convoy from reaching the towns of Nubbul and al-Zahraa in Aleppo’s northern countryside.

Militants also launched rockets at Nubbul and al-Zahraa, targeting civilians who had gathered to receive aid packages.

Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since March 2011. Over 150,000 people have reportedly been killed and millions displaced due to the violence fueled by the Western-backed militants.