The evacuation of civilians and rebels from eastern Aleppo in Syria was suspended on Friday after opposition and regime forces exchanged blame for breaching the ceasefire agreement.
Rebel leaders accused militias allied with the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of blocking the main evacuation route out of the city, the Wall Street Journal reported. Syrian state media charged that rebel groups opened fire on the convoys leading the evacuation and violated the Russian-led ceasefire deal when fighters attempted to smuggle weapons from Aleppo into an opposition-held region outside of the city.
"Regretfully, the operation was put on hold. We urge the parties to ensure it can be relaunched and proceed in the right conditions," Robert Mardini, regional director of the International Committee of the Red Cross, wrote on Twitter.
An estimated 9,500 people have been evacuated from eastern Aleppo. The United Nations reported up to 50,000 people are still trapped.
The Russian military declared that all civilians and rebels who wanted to leave the war-ravaged city had already done so. Aid groups rejected the claim and said thousands in the city were still awaiting buses to escape the city, the Telegraph reported. The situation is becoming increasingly dire for remaining residents as winter sets in and food and water supplies dwindle.
Evacuations began on Thursday following several delays. The first convoy attempting to leave the city came under fire, killing one and wounding at least four others. Rebels and activists who were helping to escort the convoy said government snipers were responsible.
The fall of eastern Aleppo, which was held by rebel forces for four years, marks a major victory for the Assad regime in the Syrian conflict, which is now in its sixth year.