Al-Nusra Front Terrorists Open Fire at Civilians Leaving Aleppo - Militia

Al-Nusra Front militants have opened fire at civilians who wanted to leave Aleppo via the Bustan al-Qasr humanitarian corridor, a militia source told RIA Novosti.

Several people have been wounded, the source said.

"Some 2,000 – 2,500 civilians who wanted to use the corridors and flee eastern Aleppo gathered in Bustan al-Qasr. Al-Nusra [Front] militants opened fire and did not allow them to leave. Several people were wounded," the source said.

Earlier, Aleppo residents told RIA Novosti that Jabhat Fatah al-Sham terrorist group formerly known as al-Nusra Front threatened to shoot Syrian civilians planning to leave eastern Aleppo through six allocated humanitarian corridors.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu declared on Tuesday that an eight-hour pause in Russian and Syrian airstrikes would be observed starting early Thursday to allow aid agencies bring lifesaving aid to Aleppo and evacuate the sick and the wounded. On Wednesday, it was extended by three hours.

A total of eight humanitarian routes have been opened to allow people escape the besieged city – six are intended for civilians and two for militants willing to lay down their arms.