MOSCOW, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Russia has decided to extend the humanitarian pause in Syria's Aleppo on Thursday for three hours at the request of international organizations, a senior Russian military officer said here Wednesday.
The pause will start from 8 a.m. (0500 GMT) till 7 p.m. (1600 GMT) local time on Thursday, said Sergey Rudskoy, chief of the Russian General Staff's Main Operational Directorate.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Monday a pause in strikes against rebel-controlled areas in the city of Aleppo to allow a safe exit of civilians and militants from the contested city.
Russian warplanes and Syrian forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have been attacking the rebel-controlled districts of Aleppo since the collapse of the ceasefire agreement reached between Moscow and Washington last month.
Rudskoy said Russian and Syrian forces have fulfilled their commitments on the humanitarian operation in Aleppo, while urging the United States and other parties involved to influence other armed groups in order to ensure the evacuation of the wounded and sick from Aleppo.
