Clashes have broken out in Aleppo shortly after a unilateral Syrian ceasefire went into effect on Thursdayto allow civilians and foreign-sponsored Takfiri militants to leave the eastern part of the city.
Artillery shells were fired at "humanitarian corridors" which the armyopened in two designated areas in the Bustan al-Qasr quarter and nearthe Castello road in northern Aleppo city, reports said.
Syrias official news agency SANA blamed terrorist groups which have accused the government ofemptying militant-held areas of civilians so itcan take over the wholecity.
State-owned Ikhbariyah television said terroristshad fired abarrage of mortars near where ambulances had been heading totake patients from the besieged parts of the city for treatmentin government-held areas.
The humanitarian pause took effect at 8 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) on Thursdayand will expire at 7 p.m. (1600 GMT). The Syrian army has said the pause in its military offensive will last three days.
Russian military officials said six corridors had been opened for civilians and humanitarian aid deliveries, while two others have been meant for militants.
One of thecorridors is in the direction of the Turkey-Syria border which terrorists use for shipment of arms and militants, while the other leads to the northwestern Syrian city of Idlib southwest of Aleppo.
Russian and Syrian aircraftstopped bombing militant-held neighborhoods in eastern Aleppo on Tuesday, two days ahead of the truce. Russia said the jetshavebeendeployed to an area at least 10 kilometers away from Aleppo.
The United Nations, however,has argued that thetemporary truce was not long enough to provide any relief supplies.
Russia ready to extendtruce
In Berlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin hinted at the possibility of extending the humanitarian truce in Aleppo, stating that Moscow was ready to take such a step.
"We have made clear our intention to extend as far as possible, depending on the current situation on the ground, the halt in our airstrikes," he said on Wednesday.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="555"]
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a statement on his departure at Tegel airport in Berlin, on October 20, 2016. (Photo by AFP)[/caption]We are ready to do this for as long as there are no clashes with rebel formations entrenched in Aleppo, he saidfollowing a meeting with French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The militants, however, say they are preparing a large-scaleoffensive to break the siege of Aleppo and that the Russian airforce has failed.
"The coming battle is not going to be like others. We arewaiting for the signal of the start of a decisive battle whichwill surprise the regime and its militias," said Abu Obeida al-Ansari, a commander from al-Qaeda affiliate Nusra Front.
The group has been rebranded as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, with Russian and Syrian officialssaying the US is supporting the group and refusing to separate its members from what Washington regards as "moderate" militants.
By Press TV
