US cool to Russia pause in Aleppo strikes
Washington expressed skepticism about Russia’s plan to extend a pause in airstrikes on Aleppo until Nov. 4 so those needing medical care and opposition fighters could leave the city.
WASHINGTON — The United States expressed skepticism Nov. 2 after Russia said it would extend a pause in airstrikes on Aleppo until Nov. 4 so that civilians, the wounded and opposition fighters could leave the besieged city. But while the United States described the plan as recycled and insufficient, American officials have taken note of the fact that Russia has largely halted aerial bombardment in Aleppo’s old city since mid-October, even while no humanitarian aid has been permitted to be brought into rebel-held eastern Aleppo, which has been besieged for over three months.
“These humanitarian pauses are really nothing more than the Russians want to provide an opportunity for people to get out before they resume the bombing,” State Department spokesman John Kirby told journalists at the press briefing Nov. 2.
“What we have seen in the past with these humanitarian pauses is no aid gets in and people get bombed again,” Kirby said. “We will see what happens.”
Russia’s Defense Ministry said in a statement Nov. 2 that there were six corridors for civilians and sick people to leave eastern Aleppo. The statement said rebels could exit eastern Aleppo with their weapons via two corridors being set up, from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Nov. 4, while warning that efforts to break the siege were doomed.
