Russia grounds its warplanes in Syria in honor of ceasefire
A top Russian military official, Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoi of the Russian military's General Staff, said that the Kremlin grounded its warplanes in Syria on Saturday to secure the ceasefire deal it had agreed to with the United States earlier this week.
"Russia is fully observing its obligations under the ceasefire. But it doesn't mean that ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra militants can breathe a sign of sigh of relief. The fight against bandit groups considered terrorist by the United Nations will continue," Rudskoi said, according to AP.
While Russia says it will certainly continue to bomb groups excluded from the truce its jets remain grounded for the meantime to avoid any mistakes (many Nusra militants, for instance, are deeply entrenched in many opposition-held areas Russia has been bombing in recent months) which might violate the ceasefire.
Russia's main operational hub in Syria is the Hemeimeem air base in the western province of Latakia. It is both an air base and a coordination center. The chief of that center, Lt.-Gen. Sergei Kuralenko, claimed on Saturday that the Russians have stopped fighting in 34 towns and villages in the provinces of Damascus, Hama and Homs through negotiated settlement.
He said they are preparing to negotiate ceasefires with groups in an additional 47 towns. After ceasefires are introduced in those areas humanitarian aid can be arranged.
"Russia is fully observing its obligations under the ceasefire. But it doesn't mean that ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra militants can breathe a sign of sigh of relief. The fight against bandit groups considered terrorist by the United Nations will continue," Rudskoi said, according to AP.
While Russia says it will certainly continue to bomb groups excluded from the truce its jets remain grounded for the meantime to avoid any mistakes (many Nusra militants, for instance, are deeply entrenched in many opposition-held areas Russia has been bombing in recent months) which might violate the ceasefire.
Russia's main operational hub in Syria is the Hemeimeem air base in the western province of Latakia. It is both an air base and a coordination center. The chief of that center, Lt.-Gen. Sergei Kuralenko, claimed on Saturday that the Russians have stopped fighting in 34 towns and villages in the provinces of Damascus, Hama and Homs through negotiated settlement.
He said they are preparing to negotiate ceasefires with groups in an additional 47 towns. After ceasefires are introduced in those areas humanitarian aid can be arranged.