Home Page | Photos | Video | Forum | Most Popular | Special Reports | Biz China Weekly
Make Us Your Home Page
Most Searched: G20  CPC  South China Sea  Belt and Road Initiative  AIIB  

Syrian army returns forces to key highway in Aleppo following rebel attack

Source: Xinhua   2016-09-16 23:59:13

DAMASCUS, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army returned its troops to the vicinity of the strategic Castello high way in the northern province of Aleppo, following a rebel attack on one of the military positions there, Syria's national TV said Friday.

The return of the Syrian troops came a day after the Syrian army started withdrawing heavy military gears from Castello, as part of a U.S.-Russian agreement to allow in aid convoys to the besieged rebel-held parts of eastern Aleppo city.

The aid was said to enter eastern Aleppo through Castello on Friday, but technical issues, as well as the rebels' reluctance to allow the aid coming through Turkey to be checked by the Syrian army or the Russian forces, have apparently hindered the aid entry.

A military source told Xinhua on Thursday that heavy military gears and vehicles had started to withdraw, with a small number of soldiers left till the Syrian army's positions there are fully handed over to the Russian forces.

The Syrian Arab Red Crescent will also assume some positions as the highway, which was captured by the Syrian army from the rebels two months ago, will be used for humanitarian purposes only.

Rebels attacked Russian soldiers around the Castello highway days ago, though without causing injuries.

On Sept. 13, the Russian forces installed checkpoints and surveillance cameras on the road.

The Syrian army captured the Castello highway two months ago, cutting off the last supply route of the rebels in the eastern part of Aleppo.

In response, the rebels launched a major offensive in Aleppo in August and captured the al-Ramouseh road, the only supply route for the government-controlled western areas of Aleppo. The army later drove the rebels out of al-Ramouseh.

On Sept. 10, the United States and Russia brokered a truce across Syria that went into force on Monday.

Since then, the violence, especially in Aleppo, has declined.

As part of the U.S.-Russian agreement, the Syrian army has to withdraw from the Castello highway to allow humanitarian aid into the rebel-held eastern Aleppo, which fell under siege when the road was captured.

It wasn't immediately clear whether the recent escalation will further hinder the planned aid entry.

Editor: Mu Xuequan
Related News
           
Photos  >>
Video  >>
  Special Reports  >>
Xinhuanet

Syrian army returns forces to key highway in Aleppo following rebel attack

Source: Xinhua 2016-09-16 23:59:13
[Editor: huaxia]

DAMASCUS, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army returned its troops to the vicinity of the strategic Castello high way in the northern province of Aleppo, following a rebel attack on one of the military positions there, Syria's national TV said Friday.

The return of the Syrian troops came a day after the Syrian army started withdrawing heavy military gears from Castello, as part of a U.S.-Russian agreement to allow in aid convoys to the besieged rebel-held parts of eastern Aleppo city.

The aid was said to enter eastern Aleppo through Castello on Friday, but technical issues, as well as the rebels' reluctance to allow the aid coming through Turkey to be checked by the Syrian army or the Russian forces, have apparently hindered the aid entry.

A military source told Xinhua on Thursday that heavy military gears and vehicles had started to withdraw, with a small number of soldiers left till the Syrian army's positions there are fully handed over to the Russian forces.

The Syrian Arab Red Crescent will also assume some positions as the highway, which was captured by the Syrian army from the rebels two months ago, will be used for humanitarian purposes only.

Rebels attacked Russian soldiers around the Castello highway days ago, though without causing injuries.

On Sept. 13, the Russian forces installed checkpoints and surveillance cameras on the road.

The Syrian army captured the Castello highway two months ago, cutting off the last supply route of the rebels in the eastern part of Aleppo.

In response, the rebels launched a major offensive in Aleppo in August and captured the al-Ramouseh road, the only supply route for the government-controlled western areas of Aleppo. The army later drove the rebels out of al-Ramouseh.

On Sept. 10, the United States and Russia brokered a truce across Syria that went into force on Monday.

Since then, the violence, especially in Aleppo, has declined.

As part of the U.S.-Russian agreement, the Syrian army has to withdraw from the Castello highway to allow humanitarian aid into the rebel-held eastern Aleppo, which fell under siege when the road was captured.

It wasn't immediately clear whether the recent escalation will further hinder the planned aid entry.

[Editor: huaxia]
010020070750000000000000011105091356913921