Russian, Syrian airstrikes in Aleppo halted
MOSCOW: Russian and Syrian warplanes yesterday halted their airstrikes on Syria’s besieged city of Aleppo in preparation for a temporary pause in the military push that Moscow has announced for later in the week.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said the halt in the strikes should help pave the way for militants to leave the eastern rebel-held parts of the contested city.
Both Russian and Syrian air raids on the northern city of Aleppo were suspended at 10am yesterday, Shoigu said. He described the suspension as a precursor for the opening of humanitarian corridors.
Moscow on Monday announced a “humanitarian pause” between 8am and 4pm tomorrow to allow civilians and militants safe passage out of the city.
At that time, Russian and Syrian militaries will halt any offensive actions. Syrian rebels, including al-Qaeda militants, as well as the wounded and the sick will be allowed to leave to the neighbouring rebel-held province of Idlib.
“The early halting of airstrikes is necessary to declare a ‘humanitarian pause’,” Shoigu said. “It will… guarantee a safe exit of civilians through six corridors and prepare for the evacuation of the ill and the wounded from the eastern part of Aleppo.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said the halt in the airstrikes was a goodwill gesture to pave the way for tomorrow’s pause. “The Russian military is offering yet another chance, and we hope that our partners will allow us all to take advantage of that,” Peskov said.
The United Nations said Russia has communicated plans for two eight-hour cease-fires in rebel-held parts of Aleppo over “consecutive days” this week.
Spokesman Jens Laerke of the UNhumanitarian co-ordinator Ocha said in Geneva the agency needs assurances from all sides that fighting will stop before it can provide humanitarian assistance to the city.
In Moscow, Shoigu added that Russia is “asking the countries wielding influence with the (Syrian) rebels… to persuade their leaders to end fighting and leave the city.”
He said the Syrian troops will pull back to distances allowing unimpeded exit for those carrying weapons via two corridors, including the main artery of Castello Road.
The Russian initiative also should boost talks between military experts from several nations that are set to open in Geneva today, he added.
“Their work will be aimed first of all at separating the ‘moderate opposition’ from the terrorists and its withdrawal from the eastern part of Aleppo,” he said.
Moscow has urged Washington to encourage Syria’s Western-backed rebels to sever ties with al-Qaeda militants.