Humanitarian Pauses in Aleppo Cannot Be Used to Aid Terrorists - Russian MoD

Humanitarian pauses in Syria's embattled city of Aleppo are needed to provide relief to civilian population rather than to allow terrorists to recuperate and restore their combat capability, the Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The ministry confirmed receiving a letter from Jan Egeland, a top UN adviser for humanitarian issues in Syria, requesting the Russian military to extend the duration of humanitarian pauses in Aleppo.

"Humanitarian pauses are, certainly, necessary. However, we believe that to prolong these pauses thus giving terrorists a perfect opportunity to restore their combat capability would be counterproductive and illogical," ministry's spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a statement.