The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 12 people, including six children, were killed in 30 air raids, but the report has not been independently confirmed.
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It say the centres set up to help victims of bombardments were being targeted, and three out of four had been put out of action.
US Secretary of State John Kerry called on Syria and Russian Federation to end aerial bombardment of eastern Aleppo, stating that there was “no chance” of peace without an end to military operations and coordination between the parties.
The Syrian army added that civilians who leave the rebel-held districts of Aleppo and head towards government-held checkpoints would not be arrested and would be considered as refugees.
In its late-night announcement on Thursday, the Syrian military announced “the start of its operations in the eastern districts of Aleppo”. But army officials said its offensive operation would include a ground attack that could last “from a few hours to a few days”, AFP reported.
It was unclear whether the new offensive would involve ground troops.
Asked what the United States would do if the Russian and Syrian governments did not respond with an end to the air campaign, the official said “obviously this is something we are giving a lot of thought to ourselves”.
Another military source in Damascus said reinforcements were already in place in Aleppo.
The apparent collapse of US -backed peacemaking may mark a turning point in the five-year civil war, with the government and its Russian and Iranian allies now seemingly determined to crush the rebellion in its biggest urban stronghold.
In a series of tweets, Dr Anwar Gargash, the UAE minister of state for foreign affairs said, “The tragedy is we see no end in sight”. Suffering in Aleppo [is] emblematic of great Syrian tragedy.
Alice reported on All Things Considered that local residents say the new offensive brings the violence in Aleppo to a new level.
The announcement of the Syrian offensive suggested that Syria’s government has no intention of complying with any further cease-fire requests from the worldwide community, despite appeals by Secretary of State John F. Kerry the day before to revive the failed attempt to stop the fighting. “We can not continue on the same path any longer”. In addition, the USA had to press the rebel forces to separate from the extremist elements who have been fighting alongside them.
“The only way to achieve that is if the ones that have the air power in that part of the conflict simply stop using it”.
In an interview with the Associated Press news agency, he reaffirmed his government’s position that a deadly strike on an aid convoy in Aleppo on Monday had not been carried out by Syrian or Russian planes. “In Aleppo, negotiations are being conducted by fire”, he said.
In Damascus, an analyst close to the regime said it was no coincidence that the Aleppo assault began as the NY talks broke down. “The Americans must understand that so long as they don’t implement their commitments, particularly for the rebels to distance themselves from”.
Recovering full control of the rebels’ last significant urban area would be the most important victory of the war so far for Assad, strengthening his control over Syria’s most populous and strategically important regions.
The top American and Russian diplomats have been meeting daily this week in NY on the sidelines of the United Nations annual meetings, but they have failed to make any significant progress on Syria.
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Residents said the government’s move is part of a deliberate policy of forced displacement.
