MOSCOW, February 8. /TASS/. Residents in the Syrian regions of Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor have taken to the streets demanding that the US-led coalition troops be withdrawn from the country and that the Syrian Democratic Forces armed organization stop blocking humanitarian aid deliveries, Lieutenant General Sergei Solomatin, head of the Russian Center for reconciliation of the conflicting sides in Syria, told reporters on Friday.
"In the provinces of Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor, protest rallies have been reported against the blockage of humanitarian aid deliveries by the US-controlled Syrian Democratic Forces," Solomatin said. "During the rallies in Abu-Hammad, Havidjet Shian, Sahalbiyah and Safsafa, local residents demanded the withdrawal of US-controlled troops from the Syrian territory and asked the international community and the Syrian government for help so as to stop blockage of deliveries of humanitarian aid provided by international agencies."
Apart from that, Solomatin said that one Syrian soldier was killed in the shelling by militants operating the Idlib de-escalation zone. "Over the past day, terrorists from the Idilb de-escalation zone have attacked Shir al-Sahab, Kinsibba, Qbana and Malka Bait Djunaid in the Latakia province, Khar in the Aleppo province, as well as northern districts in the Aleppo city," the general said.
According to Solomatin, an Armenian humanitarian mission started its work in Aleppo on February 8. "The mission, consisting of 83 people, was tasked with demining outside combat zones, mine awareness, and providing medical services to citizens of Aleppo. Issues of delivery of Armenian specialists to Syria, as well as their logistical support, are carried out with the help of the Russian side," Solomatin said.
Apart from that, he added that over the past 24 hours, the Russian reconciliation center carried out a humanitarian mission in Dama in the Al-Suwayda province, handing out 200 sets of blankets and towels and 200 clothing items to people in need.
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 and evacuation of civilians from de-escalation zones.