MOSCOW, January 18. /TASS/. Numerous shelling attacks by militants operating in the Idlib de-escalation zone were reported from Syria’s Latakia and Hama governorates and Aleppo’s neighborhoods, chief of the Russian Center for reconciliation of the conflicting sides in Syria Sergei Solomatin said on Friday.
"Illegal armed groups operating in the Idlib de-escalation zone continue to violate the ceasefire. Thus, during the day, shelling attacks by militants were reported from the settlements of Nahshebba, Darh Abu-Assad and Kuljok in the Latakia governorate; from the settlement of Zellaquiyat in the Hama governorate' and from Aleppo’s Al-Bogaz neighborhood. Apart from that, militants shelled Aleppo’s southwestern suburb. One Syrian soldier was wounded," he said.
He also said that during the day officers of the Russian reconciliation center conducted two humanitarian operations in the settlements of Saida in the al-Quneitra governorate and Wraida in the Aleppo governorate. A total of 1,000 bags with food products and one tonne of fresh bread were handed out to civilians.
Solomatin also said that refugees continue to return to their homes in Syria. The Russian reconciliation center is helping to ensure operation of ten checkpoints. "As of January 17, 2019, as many as 217,476 people have returned to Syria," he reported.
Apart from that, in his words, the Syrian authorities continue work to amnesty people dodging military service, including refugees and former members of illegal armed groups. Thus, as of January 17, 2019, as many as 27,091 people have been amnestied, he added.
Efforts are continued to restore infrastructure and housing damaged during the conflict. By now, as many as 31,057 residential houses, 721 educational and 132 medical facilities have been restored. A total of 976 kilometers of motor roads have been repaired.
The Russian reconciliation center continues to fulfill assigned tasks after the completion of the military campaign in Syria. The center’s officers regularly travel around the country's liberated areas to assess the humanitarian situation. The main efforts of the Russian military are now focused on assistance to the refugees returning to their homes.