Friday Evening Deadline Set by Russia for Rebels to Leave Aleppo

On Wednesday, Russia and the Syrian army indicated an extended moratorium on air strikes in Aleppo. The two allied forces told anti-government rebels in the city to leave by Friday evening,

Russia is helping forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad to retake full control of Aleppo. However, rebels would be permitted to depart the city unharmed and with their weapons between 0900 and 1900 local time on Nov. 4 thru two distinct corridors, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Civilians and the wounded and ailing would be allowed to leave thru six other corridors, it said.

The Syrian army issued a similar statement later in the day urging rebel fighters to cease firing and to “use this opportunity” to leave the city with their weapons.

An official in an Aleppo-based insurgent group said rebels spurned the calls.

Fastaqim rebel group’s Zakaria Malahifji told Reuters that leaving Aleppo is completely out of the question. They will not give up the city of Aleppo to the Russians and will not surrender.

He denied there were corridors assuring safe transit and said civilians did not believe the government side.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said President Vladimir Putin had instructed the pause in fighting to prevent senseless killings. Further, Syrian authorities would guarantee its troops withdraw from the two corridors assigned for rebels.

Humanitarian cease-fires intended to allow both civilians and rebels to depart the city have been arranged by Moscow and Damascus previously. However, they have mostly failed amid unceasing violence as both sides accuse each other of preventing people from leaving.

No way out for rebels

On Tuesday, a Kremlin spokesman said the cessation of air strikes was still in effect, but could not be extended if rebels in the city did not cease their attacks.

Rebels inside the city had taken heavy casualties during the fighting and were essentially trapped, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.

“All attempts by the rebels to break through in Aleppo have failed,” the ministry said. “The terrorists have suffered heavy losses in lives, weapons, and equipment. They have no chance to break out of the city.”

 

 

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Pope Francis: Those Responsible for Bombing Aleppo ‘Must Answer to God’

VATICAN – Pope Francis at a public speaking engagement in St. Peter’s Square has denounced the bombing of Aleppo in Syria. He pointed out that those responsible for killing civilians will have to answer to God. The Pope described Aleppo as “an already martyred city, where everybody is dying.”

Pope Francis said that he is “united in suffering through prayer and spiritual closeness” to the people in Aleppo. The Pope expressed “deep pain and strong worry for what’s happening,” he further said. “children and elderly … everyone is dying.”

“This is an imperative and urgent obligation. I appeal to the consciences of those responsible for the bombings, who one day will have to account to God”.  He urged all those involved to “commit themselves with all their strength to protect civilians”.

Once Syria’s largest city, Aleppo now comes in two parts – the government controlled west and rebel occupied east.

The Syrian government under President Bashar al-Assad along with its Russian backers were accused of committing “barbaric” action against the people. Consequently, Moscow   is challenging the accusation and considers the Western allies’ rhetoric as unacceptable.

The current situation in Syria is that the Russian-backed Syrian forces have unleashed a major operation on the ancient city. In addition, air strikes have resumed pounding the rebel-held eastern part of Aleppo overnight.

Aid groups working in Aleppo has determined that children constitute a large portion of casualties due to the air strikes. Furthermore, at least 100,000 children remain confined within the rebel controlled part of Aleppo.

Aid Severely Needed

World Health Organization is calling for an “immediate establishment of humanitarian routes” into Aleppo. Reports on the ground indicate that hospitals are in dire need of supplies. Emergency patients are coming in almost non-stop and emergency personnel as well as supplies simply aren’t sufficient.

The US have pledged to give an extra $364 million in humanitarian assistance to those affected by the Syrian conflict.

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