MOSCOW, December 12. /TASS/. The Syrian government has regained control of 96% of Aleppo’s territory, Major General Igor Konashenkov, the Russian Defense Ministry’s spokesman, said on Monday.
"The Syrian army has liberated five more quarters in eastern Aleppo over the past 24 hours," Konashenkov said. "The Syrian government is thus fully controlling 96% of Aleppo’s territory, while the total area in the eastern part of the city held by militants does not exceed 8.5 square kilometers," Konashenkov said.
He recalled that the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Warring Parties had helped over 100,000 civilians, including 40,000 children, leave Aleppo’s eastern districts since the beginning of the Syrian army’s operation to recapture the city.
"All of them have been accommodated in the humanitarian centers and provided with hot meals and foodstuffs. More than 5,100 residents have returned to their homes in the liberated neighborhoods from the city’s western districts. The Russian Reconciliation Center has delivered 78 tonnes of humanitarian aid over the past 24 hours, including foodstuffs, drinking water, articles of daily necessity, medications, tents and warm clothing," Konashenkov noted.
Russian servicemen have cleared of mines an area of 31 hectares in Syria’s Aleppo, the Russian Defense Ministry stressed:
"By now, our military have cleared of mines more than 31 hectares of the city’s territory and 18 kilometers of motor ways. As many as 1,389 explosive objects have been found and rendered harmless."
According to the spokesman, 37 social infrastructure facilities in Aleppo have been demined. "Among these facilities are hospitals, mosques and schools - militants used them as control centers, munitions depots and shops for the production of missiles and planted mines there when retreating," he noted.