500 reported dead in Russian-backed Aleppo offensive

At least 500 people have been killed since the beginning of a Russian-backed offensive on Aleppo in Syria, which began on the first of the month, Al Jazeera reports. The UK-based monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported Wednesday that among the dead are "89 civilians, including 23 children, 143 pro-government fighters, 274 rebels and foreign fighters."

In anticipation of the Syrian government's offensive, which has been supported by Russian air strikes, tens of thousands of Syrians have already fled to the Turkish border. The U.N. has warned that as many as 300,000 people living in Aleppo could be cut off from humanitarian aid if negotiations aren't successful.

"If government advances around the city continue, local councils in the city estimate that some 100,000 to 150,000 civilians might flee," the U.N. has said.

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