RT correspondent Murad Gazdiev visited Aleppo, one of the most dangerous areas in Syria. Aleppo has seen some of the fiercest clashes during the course of the Syrian war, and the battle for the city continues.
Fighting between government forces, jihadists and numerous militant groups in the city intensified after the Syrian army declared an end to the week-long ceasefire on September 23, blaming militants for numerous violations of the cessation of hostilities.
The Syrian government set up seven exits that local residents could use to move from one part of Aleppo to another.
Terrorists barricaded those exits and planted mines. For over a month, civilians have been unable to use those passages because Washington could not convince the militant to remove the barricades.
Bassem Hayak from the Aleppo Medical Association compared the situation in the eastern Aleppo to a prison.
"Nowadays, the people are living there like in a big prison. The terrorists don’t let anyone leave the city. They are using the situation to pressure the government," Hayak told RT.
The eastern part of Aleppo is under control of al-Nusra Front, which until recently was the branch of al-Qaeda in Syria.
Russian aviation conducts on average 150 airstrikes a day against Daesh and other extremist groups. In turn, the US-led international coalition carries out some 12 airstrikes, only against Daesh.
The Russia-US-brokered ceasefire agreement was aimed at saving civilians’ lives in Aleppo. The agreement required establishing a humanitarian corridor along the Castello Road, north of Aleppo. The warring parties were demanded to withdraw heavy weapons and troops from the area.
According to Russia, the Syrian government made two attempts to withdraw forces. However, Washington denies the information. As for opposition groups, they have not observed the terms of the truce.
