BEIRUT, April 24. /TASS/. Never-stopping shelling of Aleppo’s living quarters "only proves that terrorists and their patrons are suffering defeat in Syria," Syrian Minister of Information Omran al-Zoubi said in an interview with the Surya television channel.
Illegal armed groups "which rely on support from Turkey and Saudi Arabia have failed to crush The Syrian army," he said. "They have failed to bargain any political privileges in Geneva and that’s why they have got back to the tactic of bombardment of districts populated by civilians."
"It is a desperate attempt to shake tenacity of people in Aleppo and other cities. The conflict is entering a final stretch and I am calling on Aleppo’s residents to show endurance and consolidate around the armed forces," he said.
Tens of shells hit Aleppo’s al-Khalidiya, al-Hamdaniya, al-Masharika, Zahra and al-Sabil neighborhoods and the central Neil Street on Sunday. These districts are controlled by the Syrian army. According to police statistics, seven people were killed and dozens were wounded. In all, 16 civilians were killed and more than 60 were wounded in shelling in the past 24 hours.
Surya said government forces have managed to repel a Jabhat al-Nusra offensive in Al Rashidin in southwestern Aleppo.