Damaged buildings
© REUTERS/ Bassam KhabiehDamaged buildings are seen in the besieged town of Douma, Eastern Ghouta, Damascus, Syria, February 25, 2018
The humanitarian pause in the besieged rebel-held Eastern Ghouta area of Damascus has entered into force, according to a Sputnik correspondent.

Russian General Viktor Pankov said that civilians cannot leave Eastern Ghouta as humanitarian corridors had been shelled by militants.

"At 9 am on February 27, a humanitarian corridor was opened for the release of civilians from the zone of de-escalation. Currently, militants launched intense shelling and not a single civilian has come out," the general told reporters.

On Monday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that a new daily humanitarian pause in Eastern Ghouta would start on Tuesday from 09:00 [07:00 GMT] until 14:00, following the relevant order of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Security at the exit from the humanitarian corridor is set to be provided by the Russian military police and the Syrian army.

On Saturday, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution calling on all involved parties to cease fire and adhere to a long-term humanitarian pause on the entire territory of Syria in order to guarantee the safe and unimpeded supply of humanitarian aid as well as the medical evacuation of those injured. However, resolution 2401 does not apply to the fight against groups designated as "terrorist" by the UNSC.

Syrian Army's 'Tiger Forces' Reportedly Resume Op in Eastern Ghouta

The alleged footage uploaded to YouTube shows the Syrian Army's "Tiger forces" advancing on the hilltop of Tal Farzat in Eastern Ghouta. The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) resumed its operation in Eastern Ghouta after reportedly breaking through the frontlines of the Jaysh al-Islam terrorist group dominating the area.


READ MORE: What Mainstream Media Won't Tell You About Eastern Ghouta

The Russian Defense Ministry had previously stated that despite the agreement the rebels from Jaysh al-Islam continued the shelling.

"Despite reconciliation statements made by Jaysh al-Islam, insurgents continue mortar shelling from the controlled territory targeting the city of Damascus ... Four people lost their lives, more than 50 were injured, including 16 children [in a week]," the ministry's statement read.

According to the Ministry, the illegal armed groups have also targeted the Syrian army at various sites on the line of contact, while Damascus' positions near the settlements of Hazrama and Nashabiyah were attacked by car bombs.

"Despite the UN Security Council resolution on the establishment of a 30-day ceasefire in Syria, the situation in Eastern Ghouta continues to worsen," the Russian reconciliation center's spokesman Maj. Gen. Yuri Yevtushenko said at a daily briefing on Monday.

Militants Preparing Chemical Weapons Provocation

Previously, Moscow warned that militants in the region were preparing to launch a provocative chemical attack which they plan to blame on the Syrian government, according to a report released by the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria on Sunday:

"The data at our disposal indicates the leaders of militant units are preparing a provocation that will involve the utilization of chemical weapons in order to accuse the government forces of deploying chemical weapons against peaceful civilians."

The Russian military has noted that the terrorist groups were trying to undermine the ceasefire, attempting to provoke a backlash from the Syrian army.