Damascus Confirms Militants Preventing Civilians From Escaping Aleppo

Syrian National Reconciliation Minister stated that militants in eastern Aleppo have prevented the civilians from leaving the city and that resulted in casualties, while the Syrian government still has plenty of options in that regard.

DAMASCUS (Sputnik) – The militants in eastern Aleppo have prevented the civilians from leaving the city and that resulted in casualties, while the Syrian government still has plenty of options in that regard, Syrian National Reconciliation Minister Ali Haidar told Sputnik.

"There is a resistance to the evacuation of civilians [from eastern Aleppo] and everybody knows that there were casualties among civilians who wanted to exit the city, but on the other hand the Syrian government from the position of power still has many options available," Haidar said.

The militants have refused to leave the city of Aleppo because the final decision is not made by them but it belongs to the foreign countries that control their leaders and provide them with all the support, Haider added.