Russian and Syrian Air Strikes Halted for 13th Day in Aleppo, but Rebels Escalate Attacks

PRESS RELEASE

Russian and Syrian Air Strikes Halted for 13th Day in Aleppo, but Rebels Escalate Attacks

Oct. 30, 2016 (EIRNS)—The Russian Defense Ministry is posting daily reports of the escalation by jihadi rebels in Syria, while also announcing the Russian/Syrian governments cessation of air strikes in Aleppo continued for its 13th day.

“Russian and Syrian aircraft have not carried out any flights over the city of Aleppo in 13 days,” said Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov today, reported Sputnik. In contrast, he added that “the U.S.-led coalition has conducted nine airstrikes in the last 24 hours on the residential areas of Mosul,” a city with millions of people. Konashenkov also said that the terrorists in Aleppo are continuing their attacks in Aleppo on residential areas and humanitarian corridors.

In addition, the Ministry reported from the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Warring Parties based in Syria that

"at least 40 ceasefire violations by illegal armed groups have been registered in the past 24 hours in Syria, including 20 breaches in the region of Aleppo, 15 in the Damascus province, and five in the Latakia province,"

according to TASS. The Russia Center for Reconciliation was set up in Syria on Feb. 23, 2016 as part of the Russia-U.S. cessation of hostilities agreement in February. The Center also monitors and reports the opposition groups in Syria that have agreed to stop military actions against the Syrian government.

At the same time, the rebel attacks from ISIS positions in around Aleppo "have not descalated," said Konashenkov, and TASS reported that, according to Al Mayadeen, a pan-Arabic TV channel, a rebel shelling attack on Sunday had used shells stuffed with poisonous chemical elements. As many as 38 Syrians, including 14 children were killed in rebel shelling of Western Aleppo in the last 48 hours, TASS added.