News / Interviews

Russia, Syria minimizing civilian casualties in Aleppo: Pundit

Friday, 04 November 2016 2:12 PM [ Last Update: Friday, 04 November 2016 2:22 PM ]

A picture taken on November 4, 2016 from a militant-held eastern neighborhood of Aleppo shows corridors opened as part of a ceasefire in the city. (Photo by AFP)

Syria and Russia have started a 10-hour humanitarian truce in the eastern parts of the Syrian city of Aleppo to allow militants and civilians to leave besieged areas. The Friday ceasefire has brought about a relative calm in eastern Aleppo, while the militants have rejected the offer.

James O’Neil, a geopolitical analyst from Brisbane, told Press TV on Friday that the humanitarian pause in Aleppo is meant to minimize civilian casualties in the northwestern city.

O’Neil said Russia is trying “to minimize those casualties and the opportunity for criticizing" the country, and described the ceasefire as being partly “political rather than military.”

The humanitarian ceasefire “is another effort by the Russians to allow the civilians in eastern Aleppo to leave the city and for that various terrorist groups to either surrender or to leave as well,” the analyst added.

He went on to say that since the foreign-backed militants try to shot at civilians who are trying to flee the besieged areas, “there is no sign of the terrorists actually wanting to negotiate any kind of resolution of the problem.”

O’Neil also said the time will come when Russia and Syria will say “enough is enough” and they may enter a severe battle against the terrorists.

He also criticized the mainstream Western media for trying to demonize Russia and Syria for their attacks on terrorist groups, while referring the the causalities caused by US-led airstrikes the collateral damage of war.

Foreign-backed militants have killed some 70 civilians in Aleppo since the last few weeks.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk