Military Operation in Eastern Aleppo Ends, Syrian Gov't Regains Control

The fighting in Eastern Aleppo has stopped and the Syrian government has regained control over the territory after the withdrawal of militants from the city was agreed, Russia’s UN envoy Vitaly Churkin told the UN Security Council meeting in New York on Tuesday.


"The latest information that we have received during the past hour or so is that military operations in Eastern Aleppo have concluded,” Churkin said, adding, “So, there is no issue of any ceasefire or special humanitarian operations. The Syrian government has regained control of the Eastern Aleppo, so the stage of practical humanitarian actions begins."

Ahead of the emergency UN Security Council meeting, the Russian Envoy told reporters that the "latest information is that they indeed have an arrangement achieved on the ground that the fighters are going to leave the city".

According to Churkin, the militants, who have been holed up in Eastern Aleppo for years, are scheduled to leave the city "within hours."

The envoy added that the withdrawal of militants will put the city under the control of the Syrian government and there will be no need for Eastern Aleppo residents to leave their homes.

During his speech at the meeting, Churkin told the UNSC members that the “counterterrorism operations in Aleppo will conclude in the next few hours”.
 [farsnews.com]
13/12/16