RTTue, 27 Sep 2016 16:02 UTC
© SANA / Reuters
Syrian government forces have
re-captured Aleppo's central district of al-Farafirah from terrorists, state outlet SANA reported, citing army sources.
According to
SANA, the Syrian Army is now in control of al-Farafirah with sappers currently clearing the area from "mines and improvised explosive devices planted by terrorists."
"The army retook control of the entire al-Farafirah district northwest of the Aleppo citadel after neutralizing many terrorists. Units are now demining the area," AFP quoted a military source as saying.
After their retreat, the terrorists left munitions and weapons, including large-caliber machine guns, RIA Novosti reports, citing another source with knowledge of the matter.
"We have been able for the first time in several years to move the front in Aleppo," the Russian news agency's source said.
It added that the Syrian Army suffered no losses in the operation, which began in the early hours of Tuesday.
The district of Al-Farafirah is located north-west of Aleppo's main historical landmark, the Citadel - a large medieval fortified palace in the center of the old city. Syrian troops are also demining in other districts in Aleppo, including that of al-Ramusi.
The area, liberated about three weeks ago, is considered extremely important since
it is used by humanitarian convoys to deliver food and medicine to people in the war-ravaged city.
Comment: While the Syrians, with their Iranian, Lebanese, Iraqi and Palestinian allies, retake U.S.-terrorist-held areas of eastern Aleppo, Russia has vowed to continue
supporting Syria's fight:
According to the ministry, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov met on Tuesday with Syrian Ambassador to Russia Riyad Haddad in Moscow to discuss the latest developments in the Syrian crisis. "The Russian side underlined its strong determination to continue helping the Syrian government in fight against terrorism, as well as facilitating an expedient political solution to the Syrian crisis in line with UNSC Resolution 2254," the ministry said in a statement.
Russia has been assisting Syria for one year. A Syrian lieutenant
told Sputnik what Russia's campaign has brought Syria:
"Russian aircraft have brought Syrians hope for life and security. In Latakia alone, dozens of villages were liberated in several months [after the Russian operation was launched]. Thousands of people returned to their homes. The SAA retook control of hundreds of strategic locations. People are no longer at risk of the militants shelling them because [radical fighters] were pushed far away from Latakia."
Russian jets and helicopters struck hard-to-reach fortified militant positions, shared coordinates of militant positions and convoys, provided air cover for Syrian offensives, lent their expertise in the de-mining of Palmyra, and helped put the SAA's operations on the offensive when they were previously struggling.
While countries like Turkey
did not provide any guarantees of coordination with Russian and Iran regarding the Turkish deployment in Syria, according to Assad adviser Bouthaina Shaaban,
Russia "respects the country's sovereignty and respects its allies." In all areas, Russia does not agree to anything without the Syrian government's approval, she says. "Our Russian ally is radically different from the representatives of the West."
Today, more settlements signed on to the ceasefire via Russia's reconciliation center, bringing the
total number to 668 (again showing that the ceasefire really is a success), and
131 militants and 119 family members left Homs after signing an amnesty agreement with the government and being transported by bus to another militant-held region in the province.
Comment: While the Syrians, with their Iranian, Lebanese, Iraqi and Palestinian allies, retake U.S.-terrorist-held areas of eastern Aleppo, Russia has vowed to continue supporting Syria's fight: Russia has been assisting Syria for one year. A Syrian lieutenant told Sputnik what Russia's campaign has brought Syria: Russian jets and helicopters struck hard-to-reach fortified militant positions, shared coordinates of militant positions and convoys, provided air cover for Syrian offensives, lent their expertise in the de-mining of Palmyra, and helped put the SAA's operations on the offensive when they were previously struggling.
While countries like Turkey did not provide any guarantees of coordination with Russian and Iran regarding the Turkish deployment in Syria, according to Assad adviser Bouthaina Shaaban, Russia "respects the country's sovereignty and respects its allies." In all areas, Russia does not agree to anything without the Syrian government's approval, she says. "Our Russian ally is radically different from the representatives of the West."
Today, more settlements signed on to the ceasefire via Russia's reconciliation center, bringing the total number to 668 (again showing that the ceasefire really is a success), and 131 militants and 119 family members left Homs after signing an amnesty agreement with the government and being transported by bus to another militant-held region in the province.