Russia’s Aerospace Force deals 452 strikes on IS in eastern Aleppo

MOSCOW, March 10. /TASS/. Russia’s Aerospace Force over the past week dealt 452 strikes against militants of the Islamic State (outlawed in Russia) in the east of Aleppo Province to have destroyed more than 600 militants, the chief of the General Staff’s main operations directorate, Sergey Rudskoy, has said.

The Syrian armed forces have achieved considerable success in the east of Aleppo province.

"These successes became possible thanks to support from the Russian Aerospace Force, which during the past week dealt 452 strikes against Islamic State militants in the east Aleppo province. More than 600 militants, 16 armored vehicles, 41 pickup trucks carrying heavy machine-guns and 30 motor vehicles have been eliminated," he said.

Syrian military recapture water pumping station in Aleppo

The Syrian Armed Forces recaptured from terrorists the water purification and pumping stations near Aleppo, Rudskoi said.

"They have recaptured control over the stations of purification and pumping of water," he said. "As restoration works are finalized, Aleppo and its suburbs will have required supplies of drinking water."

From January 14, about 1.8 million people in Aleppo were cut off water supplies after an accident at the pumping station, which is in a region, controlled by terrorists then. Two months earlier, militants of the Islamic State destroyed two water pumping stations in al-Khafsa.

Medical assistance to Aleppo residents

Military doctors from the Russian Defense Ministry’s hospital continue to provide medical assistance to residents of Syria’s Aleppo, Rudskoi said.

"The Russian Center for Reconciliation of the opposing sides continues to provide Aleppo residents with necessary assistance. In the eastern part of the city, humanitarian missions are carried out on a daily basis. Military doctors from the Russian Defense Ministry’s hospital have been providing medical care to civilians," he said.

The general added that Aleppo residents had been helping local authorities in restoring normal life. In particular, several volunteer clean-ups have been conducted that involved hundreds of people.

The Syrian government troops liberated Aleppo from militants in late 2016.

46 humanitarian missions in one week

The Russian Center for Reconciliation of the opposing sides carried out a total of 46 humanitarian missions in Syria in the course of one week, according to Rudskoi.

"The Russian Center for Reconciliation of the opposing sides continues to provide humanitarian aid to civilians in Syria. Over the past week, a total of 46 humanitarian missions were carried out. In particular, two humanitarian convoys carrying food sets, drinking water and basic necessities were sent to settlements in the Manbij city area," Rudskoi elaborated.

According to him, Russian aircraft delivered 122 tonnes of food, provided to the Syrian government by the United Nations, to the Deir ez-Zor city, besieged by militants of the Islamic State terror group).

Rudskoi added that the Syrian government troops had been deployed to the Manbij city area controlled by the Kurdish militia, the Syrian state agencies were resuming their activities in the area.

Three more Syrian settlements join ceasefire agreements

The number of Syrian settlements joining the ceasefire agreements has reached 1,338, according to Rudskoi.

"Over the past week, as many as 47 settlements joined the ceasefire, the total number of settlements signing the ceasefire agreements have reached 1,338," he said. "The number of the moderate opposition’s armed unites claiming to abide by the ceasefire has grown to 199."

On Thursday, the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the opposing sides said that 1,335 settlements had joined the ceasefire agreements.

Rudskoi stressed that after the nationwide ceasefire was declared in Syria, "a significant progress has been made in efforts to facilitate the peace process."