Syrian Army Urges Militants in Damascus, Aleppo to Lay Down Arms

The General Command of the Syrian Army urged militants fighting against the government forces in several Syrian provinces to lay down their weapons.

DAMASCUS (Sputnik) — The Syrian army called on the insurgents fighting with the government forces near Damascus and in the Aleppo and the Daraa provinces to lay down their weapons.

"The General Command of the Army urges anyone who carries a gun in Daraa, Eastern Guta [in the outskirts of Damascus], as well as in the east of Aleppo to accelerate the disarmament process to resolve the situation and to return to normal life," the statement obtained by RIA Novosti on Sunday said.

Syria has been in a state of civil war since 2011, with the army loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting several opposition factions and militant organizations, including Daesh, which is banned in Russia, the United States and many other countries.

On January 29, the talks between the Syrian government and representatives of the country's opposition factions began in Geneva. UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said on February 3 that the talks would be temporarily suspended until February 25.