Smoke rises after air strikes on rebel-controlled besieged eastern Aleppo, Syria December 5, 2016. REUTERS/Omar Sanadiki

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia’s defence ministry said on Tuesday that Syrian government forces had taken control of five more districts of eastern Aleppo, Russian news agencies reported.

The Syrian army has now taken over 35 districts that were previously controlled by rebels opposed to Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, the ministry was quoted as saying.

Russia backs Assad in the Syrian conflict.