Civilians Pay the Price With Aleppo Poised to Fall

Bashar al-Assad's government forces in Syria are poised to reclaim Aleppo, and two weeks of attacks have displaced thousands of residents. Here's a look at developments:

• The big picture: Aleppo would give Assad control of Syria's five biggest cities, meaning it's likely he's going to survive the years-long rebel uprising, observes an analysis at the New York Times. But he shouldn't get too excited: Rebels will decamp to the countryside, and "he would rule over an economic wasteland hampered by a low-level insurgency with no end in sight." Full analysis here.

• The UN estimates that 16,000 people have been uprooted in the latest violence, and officials expect the exodus to get worse, reports CNN.
• Whether they flee or stay, residents face one common problem: a distinct threat of starvation. The Washington Post has a closer look.
• It's the eastern half of Aleppo that's under siege, and an estimated 250,000 people were still living there prior to this latest fighting. Why? They feel trapped. See the BBC.
• Earlier this month, eastern Aleppo still had one hospital standing, but airstrikes have since wiped it out. See NPR.
• Syria is going to be a major foreign policy issue for President-elect Trump, and an analysis at Foreign Affairs lays out a potential strategy for him. Key is putting pressure on Moscow and Tehran. Read it here.
• The US just lost its first service member in the fight against ISIS in Syria; ABC News has details.
• A 7-year-old's plight has caught the world's attention.

(More Syria stories.)