All news
Updated at: 

Russian military deliver humanitarian aid to Syrian Daraa

The locals greeted the Russian humanitarian mission with a festive rally, where the governor and local officials made speeches

TUBNA (Syria), June 4. /TASS/. The Russian military have delivered about 4 tons of humanitarian aid, including bread baked of Russian flour in Syria, to the Syrian Daraa Province, spokesman of the Russian reconciliation center in Syria Colonel Stanislav Ivanov told reporters on Saturday.

"We have delivered to the residents and refugees in the Tubna town in the Daraa Province four tons of humanitarian assistance," he said. The people received individual food packages, tinned fish and meat, flour and cereals. The Russian military doctors offer assistance in a mobile medical tent.

Humanitarian actions favor establishment of peace in Syria, the spokesman said, adding Russian negotiators cooperate actively with the Syrian authorities. For example, a truce agreement in Tubna had been signed with the assistance of the province’s Governor Mohammad Khaled al-Hannus. The locals greeted the Russian humanitarian mission with a festive rally, where the governor and local officials made speeches.

"We welcome our Russian friends," the governor said. "Welcome, our friends and brothers. The history proves our friendship."

"The international terrorist organizations the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra (outlawed in Russia - TASS) and other illegal armed groups have unleashed this bloody war… At the times complicated for Syria, Russia has offered assistance. I am confident with the common efforts peace will come to this country. Peace to your house, as they say in Russia," the Russian spokesman told the local people.

Daraa’s governor told reporters the governmental forces and the militia control the situation in the province. He said the province had welcomed many refugees, and the government offers all essentials to them. Besides, the local authorities care for the locals, who remain in regions controlled by the terrorists. For example, he said, they deliver books to schools and continue paying salaries to teachers.

Russia’s Aerospace Forces started delivering pinpoint strikes in Syria at facilities of Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra on September 30, 2015, on a request from Syrian President Bashar Assad. On March 14, 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to start, from March 15, withdrawing the main part of the Russian Aerospace Forces’ group from Syria. Putin said the tasks set before the military "have been fulfilled on the whole." Two Russian military facilities - at the Hmeymim aerodrome and in Tartus, are still operational in Syria. The Russian military continue to take an active part in the fight against terrorist groups. Russian Deputy Defense Minister Nikolai Pankov said strikes on terrorists will continue to be delivered.

A ceasefire regime brokered by Russia and the United States on February 22 officially came into effect in Syria at midnight Damascus time on February 27. This does not cover terrorist groups such as Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, both outlawed in Russia, and other groups recognized as terrorist by the United Nations Security Council.

The Russian reconciliation center aims to assist armed groups in Syria in concluding ceasefire agreements, maintain the truce regime, control its observance and organize the delivery of humanitarian cargoes to civilians.