Syria Conflict: Russia’s Aleppo «Humanitarian Pause» Takes Effect

Local Editor

A "humanitarian pause" announced by Russia had formally come into effect in the Syrian city of Aleppo to allow civilians and militants leave the city.

Moscow earlier said air strikes by Russia and Syria's government had been halted two days ahead of schedule.

It also extended the pause by three hours, and suggested it could prolong the measure further.

But a Takfiri group has refused to leave besieged militant-held eastern areas of Aleppo.

Last month, the Syrian Army forces encircled militant groups and launched an all-out assault backed by Russia.

The "humanitarian pause" formally started at 08:00 local time on Thursday [05:00 GMT].

Russia's military said the originally proposed eight-hour pause would now be extended by three hours until 19:00.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said earlier this week the measure would help "guarantee" the safety of six corridors through which civilians and could leave, and sick and injured people could be evacuated.

At the Berlin talks, President Putin suggested he was prepared to extend the pause in air strikes further.

Militants had been offered a chance to leave with their weapons via two special corridors.

Shoigu also announced that military experts from Russia and countries who support the opposition - including the US, Turkey and Qatar - would hold talks to try to separate "terrorists" from "moderate" militants.

However, Syria's political opposition said that is a virtually impossible task.

The Takfiri group Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly known as al-Nusra Front, had rejected the Russian offer to leave the city, vowing to fight on.

The UN, which has designated Jabhat Fateh al-Sham a terrorist organization, said there are no more than 900 militants from the group inside Aleppo, out of a maximum of 8,000 militants in total.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team