Russia says it extended air strike moratorium in Syria's Aleppo
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 26 October 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russia says it extended air strike moratorium in Syria's Aleppo, 26 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5975a174c.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
October 26, 2016
Damaged roads and abandoned buildings in Aleppo's rebel-held Kalasa neighborhood following months of air strikes.
Russia said it was extending a moratorium on air strikes on Syria's Aleppo into a ninth day, despite reports that air strikes have continued in recent days.
Sergei Rudskoi, a senior official at the Russian Defense Ministry, said on October 25 that Moscow was extending a moratorium begun on October 19, but did not say for how long.
Rudskoi and other Russian military officials said Russia and Syria have not carried out air strikes against opposition-held areas of Aleppo for the past week.
But the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said air strikes resumed after a lull in fighting ended on October 22. There have been no civilian deaths from air strikes inside eastern Aleppo, however, the monitor said.
The U.S. State Department urged Russia to use the newly announced pause in bombing to ensure the delivery of aid to besieged civilians.
"We obviously welcome any reduction in the violence, but it has to be met with a commitment and an actual delivery of humanitarian assistance, which was the purpose in the first place," department spokesman John Kirby said.
Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website