Moscow Urges Countries With Influence on Gunmen in Syria to Call for Peace

MOSCOW — Countries that can influence gunmen and terrorist groups in Syria should call on them not to hinder humanitarian operations in Aleppo, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Saturday, according to Sputnik.

She added that gunmen  holding civilians hostage were preventing Russia and the UN from delivering aid to Aleppo’s besieged areas and helping civilians leave the city.

 “We are urging all countries who have influence on the armed “opposition” and terrorists to do everything to fulfill the obligations they have accepted,” Zakharova said.

 On October 20, Russia, Syria introduced the first humanitarian pause in Aleppo since the Syrian Army began a major operation on the terrorist-held eastern districts of the city in September.

On Saturday, Russia indicated that it might further extend the humanitarian pause, which had already been prolonged for October 22, from 08:00 to 16:00 local time, depending on the developments on the ground.

H.M