Russia and Syrian government will start a large-scale humanitarian operation in Aleppo today, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said on Thursday (July 28).
“In accordance with the order of the Russian president to start a large-scale humanitarian operation together with the Syrian government to provide assistance to the population of Aleppo,” Shoigu said.
Civilians will be able to leave Aleppo via three corridors, while one more corridor may be used by militants who wish to lay down arms. “The Russian Center for reconciliation of warring parties will open three humanitarian corridors together with the Syrian government to provide assistance to people who were taken hostage by terrorists, as well as for militants who want to lay down their arms. Mobile centers will be opened near these corridors to provide food and medical assistance to people,” the defense minister added.
Russia still expects US to provide coordinates of Free Syrian Army
Russian Defense Ministry still hopes to receive from the United States coordinates of areas where Free Syrian Army is stationed, Sergey Shoigu said.
“We still hope to receive from our US colleagues the coordinates of areas where units of the Free Syrian Army are stationed and information about a typical unit of moderate opposition – what weapons and equipment they usually have, including the number of tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, artillery systems,” Shoigu said.
“Since US partners have not provided information on disengagement between Jebhat al-Nusra (terrorist organization banned in Russia) and Free Syrian Army, we will create the fourth corridor in the north of Aleppo toward Castello Road for safe passage of armed militants,” he said.
“We have repeatedly called on opposing sides to reconcile, but militants continued to violate ceasefire regime, to shell settlements, to attack positions of government forces. The humanitarian situation has deteriorated in Aleppo and its suburbs,” Shoigu explained noting that such measures are taken “exclusively to ensure security of Aleppo residents.”
Source: TASS
