Syrian army claims victory in crucial city

The Syrian army has said it has retaken Aleppo entirely and brought "security and safety" back to the city, as the last group of rebel fighters were evacuated, the ABC News reported.

The last group of rebels and their families holed up in a small enclave in Aleppo were evacuated under a deal that gives the army and its allies full control of the city after years of fighting, state television said.

The Syrian Government's recapture of Aleppo is a major turning point in the Syrian civil war with potentially powerful political repercussions.

It represents a momentous victory for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and a crushing defeat for Syria's opposition which will struggle to forge a way forward.

The ancient city has been divided into rebel and government parts since 2012.

Source: MENA