Syrian pro-government forces manoeuver a tank in the newly retaken area of Sahat al-Melh and Qasr al-Adly in Aleppo's Old City on December 8, 2016. President Bashar al-Assad said victory for his forces in Aleppo would be a "huge step" in ending Syria's war, as government troops battled to retake more rebel ground. Regime forces have retaken about 80 percent of former rebel territory in Aleppo since launching an all-out offensive three weeks ago to recapture Syria's second city. / AFP PHOTO / GEORGE OURFALIAN