MOSCOW, September 26. /TASS/. Reconciliation agreements were signed during the day with representatives of three Syrian settlements, including two in the Syrian province of Latakia and one in the province of Hama, the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring parties said in its regular daily news bulletin posted on the Russian Defense Ministry’s website on Monday.
"The number of settlements joining the reconciliation process has reached 668," the center said.
"Talks on joining the regime of cessation of hostilities were continued with field commanders of armed opposition groups in the settlement of Muaddamiet al-Shih in the province of Damascus and commanders of armed opposition groups in the provinces of Homs, Aleppo and al-Quneitra. The number of illegal armed groups that declared their commitment to the ceasefire terms remains unchanged — 69," the bulletin says.
Ceasefire violations
A total of 22 ceasefire violations by illegal armed groups were reported during the day in Syria, the Russian center said. In the province of Damascus, terrorists shelled from mortars and firearms the settlements of Hawsh-Nasri, Jobar, Hawsh al-Fara, Harasta, Kabun, Douma, farms in the settlement of Hawsh al-Fara and positions of government troops near height 612, as follows from the bulletin.
In the province of Aleppo, shelling was conducted from self-made multiple missile launcher systems, artillery systems, armored infantry carriers, mortars, anti-tank missile systems and firearms at the settlements of Benyamin, Shufra and southern farms Sheikh Ali-Kobtani, and Aleppo’s districts of Leramon, 1070, Hai al-Ansari, and the Castello trade center.
In the province of Latakia, illegal armed groups conducted mortar fire at the settlement of Ain al-Qantara and positions of government forces near Abu Ali mount.
"No air strikes were delivered by the Russian air group and the Syrian air force at armed opposition group which have declared cessation of hostilities and informed the Russian or US reconciliation centers about their locations," the Russian reconciliation center said.
Humanitarian aid
Apart from that, according to the Russian center, efforts are continued to relieve the humanitarian situation. A total of 2.24 tonnes of humanitarian cargoes —- sugar, flour, rice, tea, canned meat and fish — were delivered to the settlement of Jamiliya in the province of Homs. "Flour was delivered to the settlements of Shakhba (7.5 tonnes) in the province of al-Suwayda and Umm et-Tur (2 tonnes) in the province of Hama," the center said.
Hot meals and living essentials distribution outlets are still open for civilians leaving Aleppo’s neighborhoods controlled by illegal armed groups.
The Russian Defense Ministry declared the establishment of the reconciliation center on February 23. It is headquartered at the Hmeymim air base, Latakia province. The center was set up in line with agreements reached by Russia and the United States to facilitate the negotiations between the Syrian government and opposition and to organize humanitarian deliveries.