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U.S.-Russian Agreement to Extend Ceasefire to Aleppo | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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A man carries a bird cage after air strikes by pro-Syrian government forces in the rebel-held Al-Shaar nighborhood of Aleppo, Syria. REUTERS/Abdalrhman Ismail


Washington, Beirut – The U.S. Department of State announced on Wednesday that the U.S. and Russia have reached an agreement to extend the current ceasefire in Syria to Aleppo.

The two declared that they will be coordinating with all Syrian parties to register any violations to the truce.

According to the statement, the new truce starts as of May 4th midnight.

State Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner said that the U.S. concluded deliberations with Russia on investing more efforts for the cementation of cessation of hostilities, so that it also includes Aleppo and its surrounding area.

Toner considered the attacks targeting civilians unwarranted and inexcusable, saying they must halt immediately.

The agreement was brokered subsequently to violations taking place in the rural areas of Damascus last week. Early Wednesday, fierce clashes renewed in the eastern Ghouta region, battles sparked as soon as information came in on regime powers preparing to break and enter Deir al-Asafir, a village located in south Ghouta region.

On the other hand, the U.N. humanitarian aid official in Geneva stated on Wednesday that the Syrian regime is blocking relief aid’s way to eastern neighborhoods which happen to fall under the control of militant factions in Aleppo.