RT correspondent Abu Taleb Al Buheyya visited Syria’s largest city and spoke to some of the citizens of Aleppo.
“Where is the truce? It was announced at one and at two firing started. We do not need such a truce. We stand for a full settlement in Aleppo! We are tired,” local resident said.
Lately there has been fierce battles taking place in the city and civilians were caught in the firing line. The situation was worsened by the fact that part of Aleppo is still controlled by rebels of al-Nusra Front, and to them the truce does not apply. The extremists have continued to shell the residential areas.
“Is it an armistice? In the morning the shelling started, missiles started flying on people's heads. We ask the Syrian army to protect us,” a resident of Aleppo said.
Another man openly admitted that some people believe that a ceasefire is not an option. He said, “People want stability, they want to live in safety. A temporary ceasefire is nothing to us. We are tired of bloodshed! Aleppo is drowning in blood! These 48 hours will pass and death and destruction will come back to us.”
On one hand, the truce in Aleppo is a great achievement in the framework of Syrian peace process negotiations. The parties have expressed hope to protect the civilians.
But on the other hand, some believe that the “silent mode” will give the terrorist groups an opportunity to regroup and procure new ammunition and weapons. One man has even said that he believes that the supply will come from Turkey.
“In fact, the truce does not help here. We need a radical solution to the problem, specific military and political action. We are already very tired. This truce will last two or three days and then everything will be as before, insurgents will take up arms once again. Therefore, a temporary truce is not an option,” a local resident said.
“The Syrian government has agreed to this truce, first of all, in order to resolve this humanitarian catastrophe in Aleppo. Damascus is taking care of its civilians. Right now the Syrian authorities are very critical of the West, but it is worth noting that Assad does not refuse dialogue. He supports the truce and it would be foolish to criticize him for not wanting to negotiate,” an RT expert on military strategy, Omar Yassin Murhadzh, said.
Today the humanitarian situation in Aleppo remains main topic of the talks. The fate of Syria's largest city and its inhabitants will be discussed at an international level, but the solution to the crisis, appears to be internal.
The government forces and rival opposition groups laid down their arms. However, even Washington does not vouch to draw boundaries between the opposition and militants of al-Nusra operating in Aleppo.
The Syrian army did not respond to the provocation of the enemy. Local residents fear that the temporary truce was signed for just 48 hours and in the long term will not affect the situation of the city.
