Moscow: President Vladimir Putin has ordered a 10-hour truce on Friday in the war-ravaged Syrian city of Aleppo, the Russian defence ministry said.
"A decision was made to introduce a 'humanitarian pause' in Aleppo on November 4 from 9:00 am (0600 GMT) to 19:00," the chief of Russia's General Staff Valery Gerasimov said in a statement on Wednesday.
Gerasimov said the decision was approved by Syrian authorities and was meant to "prevent senseless casualties" by allowing civilians and armed combatants to quit rebel-held eastern Aleppo.
He said eight corridors -- six for civilians and two for fighters -- could be used for this.
Rebels launched a major assault Friday to break the siege of Aleppo but have been met this week by fierce resistance from regime forces.
Aleppo has been hit by some of the worst violence in Syria's five-year conflict, turning the once bustling economic hub into a divided and bombed-out city.
Defence ministry Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday that Russia had ceased air strikes on eastern Aleppo for 16 days, following criticism over a Russian-backed Syrian government assault that has killed hundreds of civilians and destroyed infrastructure, including hospitals.
The halt in bombing was initially declared ahead of a short ceasefire that ended last month. Moscow at the time ruled out a truce extension.
Shoigu accused the US-led coalition of failing to rein in hardline rebels and said that the chances of a political settlement to the crisis was now remote.
The West has accused Moscow of committing possible war crimes in Aleppo through indiscriminate bombing to support a brutal Syrian government offensive.
Moscow has been conducting a bombing campaign in Syria in support of long-time ally Bashar al-Assad since September 2015.
More than 300,000 people have been killed since Syria's war devolved from a widespread protest movement against Assad's rule in March 2011 to a multi-front war between rebels, jihadists, Kurds and regime forces.
"A decision was made to introduce a 'humanitarian pause' in Aleppo on November 4 from 9:00 am (0600 GMT) to 19:00," the chief of Russia's General Staff Valery Gerasimov said in a statement on Wednesday.
Gerasimov said the decision was approved by Syrian authorities and was meant to "prevent senseless casualties" by allowing civilians and armed combatants to quit rebel-held eastern Aleppo.
Rebels launched a major assault Friday to break the siege of Aleppo but have been met this week by fierce resistance from regime forces.
Advertisement
Defence ministry Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday that Russia had ceased air strikes on eastern Aleppo for 16 days, following criticism over a Russian-backed Syrian government assault that has killed hundreds of civilians and destroyed infrastructure, including hospitals.
Advertisement
Shoigu accused the US-led coalition of failing to rein in hardline rebels and said that the chances of a political settlement to the crisis was now remote.
Advertisement
Moscow has been conducting a bombing campaign in Syria in support of long-time ally Bashar al-Assad since September 2015.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Utilise Unique Ties To Tell Putin To End War Against Ukraine: US To India US Urges India To "Utilize" Ties With Russia, Tell Putin To End Ukraine War Top University To Study Medicine In Russia As Per QS World Rankings Puja Khedkar's Disability Document Has Factory Address, Ration Card Proof 25,000 Aspirants For Airport Jobs Paying Rs 22,000: A Mumbai Stampede Scare "Back To Square One": Arvind Kejriwal's Lawyer Seeks Bail, Slams CBI Arrest Video: Elderly Man In Dhoti Denied Entry To Bengaluru's GT Mall 10 Years On, 298 Victims Of MH17 Disaster Still Await Justice JoSAA Counselling 2024: All You Need To Know About NIT+System Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.