BEIRUT (Sputnik) — Dozens of militants in the eastern part of the Syrian city of Aleppo have laid down their arms and gave up in the last two days, a source in the Aleppo militia told RIA Novosti on Saturday.
"We cannot yet say that the militants are giving up en masse. But several dozens from Salaheddin and Sheikh Maqsood [neighborhoods] have given up in the last two days," the source said.
"This humanitarian operation is a factor speeding the resumption of Geneva talks," Jamil said, adding that "it facilitates the humanitarian situation and changes partially the balance of powers in Syria by creating the conditions to resume the talks in Geneva," Jamil said.
He stressed that Russian suggestion to open humanitarian corridors in the area of military operations is possible only with Russian participation, and the UN would not be able to do it on its own.
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups. On February 27, a US-Russia brokered ceasefire came into force in Syria. Terrorist groups such as Islamic State (IS, also known as Daesh), as well as al-Nusra Front, both outlawed in Russia and a range of other states, are not part of the deal.
