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Conflict in Syria

Syria’s Air Force backed by Russia delivers humanitarian aid to besieged Deir ez-Zor

The delivery of humanitarian cargo of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to Deir ez-Zor became possible due to the assistance of the Russian reconciliation center

© EPA/MOHAMMED BADRA

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MOSCOW, April 7. /TASS/. The crew of Syria’s military and transport aviation supported by Russian fighter jets has delivered foodstuffs to the eastern city of Deir ez-Zor besieged by the Islamic State terrorists, Russia’s defense ministry said on Thursday.

Over the past several months the international humanitarian organizations have been trying unsuccessfully to arrange the aid delivery to the Syrian city where around 200,000 citizens are in dire need of food, medicines, fuel and other essentials, according to the ministry.

The delivery of humanitarian cargo of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to Deir ez-Zor became possible due to the assistance of the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring parties established in late February at the Hmeimim airbase in order to implement the ceasefire.

"The aid delivery was carried out from the Hmeimim airfield by the Il-76 aircraft of Syria’s Air Force escorted by Russia’s Su-30 and Su-35 fighter jets. Four parachute platforms with 30 tons of humanitarian aid were airdropped to the areas of Deir ez-Zor blocked by terrorists," the statement said.

The ceasefire 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.

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