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Russian Defense Minister urges US to joint action to normalize situation in Aleppo

Earlier, the Russian center for reconciliation of the warrying parties in Syria reported that in the past 24 hours terrorists shelled several settlements in Aleppo province

MOSCOW, July 15. /TASS/. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has urged US colleagues to joint action to normalize the situation in the area of the Syrian city of Aleppo.

"We urge the US and its partners in the anti-IS coalition to jointly take most serious measures and exert maximum influence on all units under control in that area to persuade into a ceasefire all who are ready for this and normalize the situation in Aleppo," Shoigu said at the military-scientific conference ‘Military-political results of the use of armed forces in Syria and main strategic conclusions’.

The minister reminded the audience that a 72-hour truce was established in that area, which stays in place until Friday. However, the number of suicide attacks on positions of Syrian troops at Aleppo has grown in the past three days, he noted.

Earlier, the Russian center for reconciliation of the warrying parties in Syria reported that in the past 24 hours terrorists shelled several settlements in Aleppo province using artillery arms and mortars.

The number of suicide bomber attacks on the Syrian government troops’ positions in Aleppo has risen considerably over the past three days, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said.

Militants used seven infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) on Wednesday in an attempt to break through into the territory controlled by the Syrian army, the defense minister said.

"As a result of this breakthrough, six IFVs were destroyed but one managed to break through and a large number of Syrian servicemen were wounded or killed at a stronghold," the Russian defense minister said.

Also, suicide bombers riding motorbikes made breakthrough attempts in seven areas, Shoigu said.

"Four of them were intercepted but three approached the Syrian troops’ positions and blew themselves up," the Russian defense minister said.

A diplomatic source told Tass earlier that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry continued negotiations in Moscow. It was reported that the sides expected to discuss the situation in Syria, joint fight against terrorism and Ukrainian settlement.