MOSCOW, December 16. /TASS/. A number of settlements in the Syrian Hama, Aleppo and Latakia governorates came under shelling by militants acting in the Idlib de-escalation zone, chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria Sergei Solomatin said on Sunday.

"During the day, shelling attacks by militants were reported from the settlements of Darh Abu-Assad, Safsara, Ikko, Arafit, Sandran (twice) and Jubb al-Zarur in the Latakia governorate, the settlements of Tell Maraq (thrice), Tell Bazam (rwice), Tell al-Maqtaa and Achan in the Hama governorate, and Aleppo’s Suqqari, Sakibiya, Zakhabiya, Makanis al-Duwairy neighborhoods and the area around the research center," he said.

According to Solomatin, officers of the Russian reconciliation center conducted one humanitarian operation in a settlement in the Deir ez-Zor governorate. As many as 500 bags with food products were handed out to civilians.

Apart from that, in his words, work is continued to amnesty people dodging military service. Thus, as of December 15, as many as 17,246 people were amnestied, he added.

"Efforts are continued to restore infrastructure facilities and create conditions for the return of refugees. As of December 15, 2018, as many as 30,859 dwelling houses, 712 educational and 118 medical establishments have been restored. A total of 938 kilometers of motorways have been repaid," Solomatin said.

Russian reconciliation center

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.