The Russian and Syrian forces have halted all air strikes on Aleppo two days ahead of the planned pause to allow rebels and civilians to leave the city reports Reuters.
The Russian Defence Minister Sergei Soigu, in an announcement made on Tuesday, said strikes had been halted from 1000 local time (0700 GMT) to guarantee the safety of six corridors for civilian evacuation and to prepare for the removal of sick and wounded people from eastern Aleppo.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group, said Russian warplanes had launched heavy raids on Aleppo early on Tuesday, however noted that it had been quiet afterwards.
Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Shoigu said,
“We call on the leadership of counties that have influence over armed groups in eastern Aleppo to convince their leaders to stop military action and abandon the city. Everyone really interested in the fastest possible stabilisation of the situation in the city of Aleppo should take genuine political steps and not continue shuffling political papers.”