Decision to Halt Airstrikes against Gunmen in Aleppo Eastern Neighborhoods Prepares for Humanitarian Truce to begin Thursday

DAMASCUS, (ST)-The decision to halt airstrikes against gunmen in the Aleppo eastern neighborhoods was made in preparation for the humanitarian truce due to start Thursday October 20, 2016 and will last for three days, the General Command of the Army and Armed Forces said in a statement on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the Russian and Syrian air forces halted strikes over Aleppo to ensure the safe passage of civilians from eastern Aleppo along six corridors, and the evacuation of the sick and the wounded, to prepare for the humanitarian pause on October 20.

According to the Syrian army general command statement, the humanitarian truce is to begin from 8am to 7pm on October 20, 21 and 22.

The command urged all the gunmen in the eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo to lay down their weapons and benefit from the amnesty granted by President  Bashar Al-Assad.

 The statement pointed out that the army command has got precise information about the gunmen’s positions, strongholds and weapon depots in Aleppo eastern districts, stressing that gunmen who don’t seize the chance and benefit from the announced truce will face their inevitable fate.

Hamda Mustafa