Terrorists Launch Attack in Aleppo, During Russian Air Strike Pause

PRESS RELEASE

Terrorists Launch Attack in Aleppo, During Russian Air Strike Pause

Oct. 28, 2016 (EIRNS)—Terrorists hoping to take advantage of the lull in fighting during the Russian-brokered ceasefire, launched a brutal assault today, detonating car bombs, rolling in tanks, and using rocket fire and assault vehicles, media are reporting. Attacks included some executed on the humanitarian corridor, which was supposed to be safe for supplies to be brought to the city.

Early today, Lt. Gen. Sergey Rudskoy, Operations Director for the Russian General Staff, said that militants, "used the moratorium of Russian and Syrian combat flights," and tried to push into eastern Aleppo. He said,

"The attack was carried out by three groups [of militants]...with support of 20 tanks and 15 APCs. All this was accompanied by heavy fire from rocket launchers and artillery."

Rudskoy said that the terrorist offensive was repulsed. The militants lost six tanks and five armored personnel carriers.

In response, the top leadership of the Russian military today asked President Putin if the pause in aerial bombing put into effect 10 days ago, should be lifted, and airstrikes resumed against the terrorists.

According to Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov, at present, the humanitarian pause should continue, but a decision on further action will be made, based on events on the ground. Peskov said today,

"The President believes that it would be possible to extend the ongoing humanitarian pause for the withdrawal of wounded people and militants wishing to leave the city."

He said Putin also stated that

"in case of emergency, the Russian side reserves the right to use all available forces and resources to counter the terrorist groupings’ provocative actions."