Dozens of Militants in Aleppo's East Lay Down Arms over Two Days
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Dozens of militants in the eastern part of the Syrian city of Aleppo have laid down their arms and gave up in the last two days, a source in the Aleppo militia said on Saturday.
"We cannot yet say that the militants are giving up en masse. But several dozens from Salaheddin and Sheikh Maqsood [neighborhoods] have given up in the last two days," the source told RIA Novosti.
Meanwhile, Moscow and Damascus had launched a joint large-scale humanitarian relief operation in Aleppo, establishing three corridors for civilians and one for militants wishing to lay down arms, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Thursday.
"This humanitarian operation is a factor speeding the resumption of Geneva talks," Jamil said, adding that "it facilitates the humanitarian situation and changes partially the balance of powers in Syria by creating the conditions to resume the talks in Geneva," Jamil said.
He stressed that Russian suggestion to open humanitarian corridors in the area of military operations is possible only with Russian participation, and the UN would not be able to do it on its own.
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with the army fighting numerous opposition factions and terrorist groups. On February 27, a US-Russia brokered ceasefire came into force in Syria. Terrorist groups such as Daesh (ISIL), as well as al-Nusra Front are not part of the deal.
