Russia continues working on ensuring national reconciliation in Syria, despite U.S. refusal to cooperate on Syria - Russian General Staff
MOSCOW. Oct 13 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Federation continues working on ensuring the process of national reconciliation on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic despite the official refusal of the U.S. of cooperation with Russia on the peaceful settlement of the Syrian conflict, Lieut. Gen. Sergei Rudskoi, the head of the Main Operative Department of the General Staff, told a briefing on Thursday.
"The most complicated situation remains in the Aleppo area. Discontent with militant actions, residents of eastern Aleppo stage impromptu protests that are harshly suppressed by terrorists," he said.
"For example, on October 6, in several districts, including in al-Khuluq, besides the Umar bin Khattab mosque, residents raised Syrian national flags and around 40 families attempted to leave the militant-controlled area. Fire was opened against them. Three people were held and publicly executed by terrorists, the rest were forcibly returned," the general said.
"The following day mass riots were held in the al-Maqamat, Al-Salkhine and Al-Suqri areas. Eager to break free from militants, the citizens painted Syrian flags on the walls of over 30 buildings. During the crackdown on the protests, terrorists opened fire, killing and injuring over 50 people as a result," Rudskoi said.
"However, from October 8 up to the present, Syrian flags have continued being raised and rallies held in various parts of eastern Aleppo to demand that militants open exits from terrorists-controlled areas," he said.
"Having sustained significant losses in fighting with governmental troops and deprived of outside reinforcements, the leaders of the Jabhat al-Nusra group [now called Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and banned in Russia] carried out forced mobilization of the male population, which saw about a thousand people called to arms," the general said.
"Shielding themselves with these untrained people, they attempted to break through the encirclement ring. The young men drafted against their will are refusing to obey orders and are deserting en masse, at risk of repressions. These actions are met with protests among parents and relatives of mobilized teenagers," Rudskoi said.
"Thus, on October 10, a group of 20 citizens in the Bustan al-Basha area demanded that militants let the young people go and permit them to exit eastern Aleppo. Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists held the protestors and shot one third of them dead," he said.
"However, the leaders of militant groups continue shielding themselves with inexperienced fighters and have proceeded to a new wave of mobilization in eastern Aleppo, drafting teenagers as young as 14," Rudskoi said.
Despite the U.S. having officially refused to cooperate with Moscow on peaceful settlement of the Syrian conflict, Russia "continues the work of ensuring the national reconciliation process on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic," the Russian general said.
