Russia Offers Relief Aid to Syrian Rebels Willing to Sign Truce – Official

The Russian military has offered its support in procuring humanitarian aid to any Syrian rebel group willing to try out the truce with Syria’s government, a Syrian politician told Sputnik on Wednesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik), Svetlana Alexandrova — Tarek Ahmad, a member of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP), attended an outreach event of Syria’s political, religious and civil society figures at Russia’s Hmeimim air base on Tuesday where they were invited to play an active part in the reconciliation process by convincing rebels to join the ceasefire.

"The Russian military commanders reassured that they are ready to provide to any rebel group, which is ready to sign the truce agreement, any support and help they may need whether it is food or medical supplies," Ahmad said.

Ahmad said that the Russian military command had given party leaders, clerics and civil activists the green light to contact any rebel group in Syria on its behalf.

"We will not ask them to disarm, we will ask them to test a ceasefire deal and offer them on Russia's behalf all necessary support they may need," the politician said, adding he hoped more groups would sign the truce in the coming weeks.

On February 22, Russia and the United States brokered an agreement on a ceasefire in Syria. The ceasefire came into force on February 27, with the ceasefire generally holding across the country despite reported minor violations.