Russia’s Defense Ministry called on the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army to stop fighting Kurdish militias to help support the nation-wide cessation of hostilities. “For fast information exchange and actions coordination – a channel of communication between Russian reconciliation center in Hmeymim and United States analytical military and political group in Amman should be restored immediately. Based on the fact that according to Russian-U.S. agreements the ceasefire regime is restored on the whole territory of Syria, we think that military operations by the Free Syria Army against Kurds units should be stopped immediately in the north of Aleppo province,” said Sergei Rudskoy, Russian General Staff’s M.O.C. Chief
Russia also noted that it would continue air strikes against the Islamic State and the al-Qaeda linked Nusra Front, which changed its name to Jabhat Fattah al-Sham – after the group joined forces with other Sunni-Muslim militant groups. “I want to stress that despite the ceasefire the fight against ISIS and al-Nusra Front terror groups in Syria will continue despite them changing their names. Russian air force will continue to carry out strikes on terrorists’ targets in Syria,” added Rudskoy.