Russia Extends Humanitarian Pause in Aleppo for 24 Hours

Moscow has extended the humanitarian pause in the embattled Syrian city of Aleppo for another 24 hours, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Thursday.

"Under the decree of Supreme Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Putin, a decision to extend the humanitarian pause for another 24 hours has been made. The extension of the humanitarian pause in Aleppo was supported by the government of Syria", he said.

A humanitarian pause in Russian and Syrian airstrikes on terrorist positions came into force in Aleppo earlier today. It will last until 7:00 p.m. local time (16:00 GMT). Civilians are encouraged to leave the war zone through six corridors, while two others are reserved for militants willing to lay down their arms.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Assad fighting numerous opposition groups and terrorist organizations such as Daesh and al-Nusra Front. Since the war's beginning it has claimed lives of thousands of people and displaced millions more. The international community has undertaken steps to end the Syrian conflict and to solve the humanitarian crisis in the Middle Eastern country.