DAMASCUS, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people were killed and 47 others wounded on Monday by renewed mortar shelling from rebels in northern city of Aleppo, state news agency SANA reported.

The shelling targeted several areas in the government-controlled part in west of Aleppo, and is the latest in an endless circle of mortar and rocket shelling by the rebels.

The Syrian army has become in control of 98 percent of the rebel-held areas in east of Aleppo, as part of a major offensive recently unleashed with the aim of driving out the rebels from eastern Aleppo.

Tens of thousands of people have fled eastern Aleppo over the past couple of weeks, with local media reports placing the number of evacuees at 85,000.

The Syrian army said Monday that the battles will continue until fully liberating Aleppo from the rebel groups.