Russia: humanitarian pause in Aleppo extended for another 24 hours

No airstrikes will be carried out in Aleppo for another day, as the humanitarian pause for the region has been extended until Saturday evening, the Russian Defense Ministry was quoted by Russia Today as saying.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered that the temporary ceasefire in Aleppo be extended for another day. 

The humanitarian pause will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time on Saturday, Sergey Rudskoy, chief of the Russian General Staff’s main operations directorate, announced on Friday.

Moscow stopped carrying out airstrikes in eastern Aleppo earlier this week in order to pave the way for a complete ceasefire in which a number of humanitarian corridors have been opened for those who want to escape the areas of the city.

To fulfill their obligations aimed at normalizing the humanitarian situation in Aleppo, the Russian and Syrian Air Forces have for four days not conducted any flights closer than 10km (6.2 miles) to the city, the official said.

However, the militants have used the opportunity to launch a new offensive, according to the Russian army official.

More than 1,200 militants equipped with tanks, armored vehicles, and portable heavy machine guns have amassed for an attack on Aleppo from the southwest, Rudskoy said, adding that there are also some 30 suicide bombers within their ranks.

Source: MENA