"Over the past few days, the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the warring sides [in Syria] has received about a dozen calls from the leadership of armed groups in various Syrian provinces, particularly Aleppo and Damascus, asking [us] not to strike until they have completed their engagement with militants from the Nusra Front terrorist group," Konashenkov told reporters.
"With this in mind, it was decided to extend the period of work with separate militias on their accession to the ceasefire, engagement with the terrorists and definition of precise areas under their control, before [we launch] strikes on extremist positions," the spokesman added.
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups. A US-Russia-brokered ceasefire came into force across Syria on February 27, but it does not apply to terrorist organizations active in the country, such as Daesh and the Nusra Front, both of which are outlawed in Russia.
