Moscow declared that a Syrian government military offensive in the northern city of Aleppo, backed by Russia and Iran, was over.
During a heated meeting of the United Nations Security Council, which was called by France and Britain, the Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin initially said that the offensive to capture the eastern part of the besieged city was nearing an end, but quickly corrected himself, declaring that the offensive had already ended. Churkin noted that an agreement had been struck for rebels to evacuate them from the city, while stressing that civilians would be unharmed – despite western and UN accusations of the intentional killing of civilians. “The military activities in east Aleppo have stopped. So there is no question about some sort of cessation of hostilities or special humanitarian operations. The Syrian government has established control over east Aleppo. So now the stage has come for practical humanitarian initiatives that population that remains there should not be made to leave – but maybe there are some civilians who do wish to leave from this destroyed city. But the military actions have stopped. This very difficult chapter related to the situation in Eastern Aleppo has ended. It’s ended at this stage.” Adding, “All militants, together with members of their family and the injured, currently are going through agreed corridors in directions that they have chosen themselves voluntarily, including in the direction of Idlib. At checkpoints officers from the Russian Center for Reconciliation for the warring parties are working. As to arbitrary arrests or other violations of this agreement, that was concluded with the illegal armed groups, the Russian military has not reported such violations taking place. Moreover, this information can be confirmed by representatives currently place d in Aleppo of the International Red Cross as well as all U.N. humanitarian agencies working in Aleppo headed by the resident coordinator,” Churkin said.
US Ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, was not convinced by the Russian statements, leveling harsh criticism at Moscow, Tehran and Damascus, accusing them of trying to deceive the international community while committing war crimes. “It is your noose – three member states of the U.N. – contributing to a noose around civilians. It should shame you. Instead by all appearances it is emboldening you. You are plotting your next assault. Are you truly incapable of shame? is there literally nothing that can shame you? Is there no act of barbarism against civilians, no execution of a child, that gets under your skin that just creeps you out a little bit? Is there nothing you will not lie about or justify?” US Ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power said.
Rebels in Aleppo said a ceasefire with government forces in Aleppo, agreed after negotiations between insurgents and Moscow, began last night and includes the evacuation of both militants and civilians. The deal, acknowledged by Russia and Syria, signals Damascus’s biggest victory over insurgents fighting to depose President Bashar Assad in nearly six years of civil war, driving rebels from their last major urban stronghold.