'Massacre' Fears As Aleppo Set To Fall To Assad

A Free Syrian Army commander in Aleppo has told Sky News that unless Russia unexpectedly changes its tactic of indiscriminate bombing, the city will fall to the government of Bashar al Assad in days.

In an exclusive interview conducted in Turkey, he predicted a "massacre" in Aleppo and a surge in refugees heading towards Turkey.

His comments came as Syrian government forces with Hezbollah militia moved within 13 miles of the border taking the village of Kfeen and moving further north towards the strategically important town of Tal Rafat, that has been a rebel stronghold for four years.

Aleppo city is surrounded on three sides by government forces with only one road towards Turkey still passable for refugees escaping the city to the northwest.

The Free Syrian Army and moderate Jihadi groups are also locked in battle with Islamic State who have headed west towards the town of Marea, north of Aleppo.

Abu Shakra said he has briefly crossed to Turkey for talks leaving his Free Syrian Army fighters defending Aleppo on two or three fronts.

"The regime controls much of the city right into the centre now," he told me.

"If they cut the road out they will take the city. There will be a massacre," he added.

Abu Shakra says the overwhelming firepower of the Russian warplanes combined with a resurgent Syrian army supported by Hezbollah makes defeat almost certain.

He passed Sky News video of his men attacking government positions near an industrial zone on the outskirts of Aleppo.

While full of determination they did not appear capable of putting up much of a defence.

In Aleppo itself, Russian bombs have continued to pound civilian areas.

Activists sent pictures of the latest attack in the centre minutes after it had happened.

Whole buildings were destroyed in the air raid.

The immense size of the bombs and the sheer volume of attacks marks the difference between a similar campaign conducted by the Assad administration over recent years.

If Aleppo falls it is estimated a surge of more than 70,000 refugees will head out of the city to join about 100,000 who are already in camps along the border with Turkey.

Some 35,000 recent arrivals who were denied access to Turkey are now being housed in more tents hurriedly being erected near the border crossing point.

Some 2,000 families have now been registered by the Turkish authorities, raising hopes that they will be allowed to cross.

But the arrival of more trucks packed with new tents would suggest the Turks are determined to look after the refugees on the Syrian side of the border.

Government ministers have reacted angrily to calls for the country to open its borders but concede that they will do it in an emergency.

That emergency could be the fall of Aleppo.