Syrian military operations and Russian airstrikes have claimed the lives of some 2,000 terrorists from Daesh and al-Nusra Front — now renamed Fateh al-Sham Front — and their allied groups in Syria’s northern city of Aleppo, Russian media say.

The heavy casualties have been caused in the main stage of the liberation operation for Aleppo, which began two weeks ago, IRNA reported Monday, citing a Russian state television channel.

According to the report, many militants were also injured in the operation, which has also destroyed armored vehicles and weapon depots.

Syrian forces have managed to liberate vast areas in the southern part of Aleppo from the control of the militants in ongoing operations.

Militants are said to be using civilians as human shields in parts of Aleppo still under their control. The militants have also been targeting the civilians attempting to leave the city through the humanitarian corridors set up by Syria and Russia.

Syrian army soldiers inspect barrels inside a building at the entrance of the Bani Zeid district on the northwestern outskirts of Aleppo, Syria, July 28, 2016. (Photo by AFP)

Aleppo has been divided since 2012 between government forces in the west and the militants in the east.

The conflict in Syria began in March 2011. The United Nations (UN)’s Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura estimates that over 400,000 people have been killed in the conflict.

Back in 2014, the United Nations said it would no more update its death toll for Syria because it could not verify the figures that it received from various sources.

Damascus accuses Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar of being among the main supporters of the Takfiri militants in Syria.