“President Obama thanked President Erdogan for Turkey’s efforts to broker a ceasefire in Aleppo to allow for the safe evacuation of fighters and civilians wishing to depart the city under the supervision of international humanitarian organizations,” the release said on Thursday.
On Tuesday, a ceasefire and evacuation was announced in embattled eastern Aleppo, following the talks between Russia and Turkey. The evacuation started earlier on Thursday.
The two leaders agreed on the necessity to reach a nationwide ceasefire and find a peaceful solution the ongoing conflict in Syria, according to the White House.
“President Obama and President Erdogan reviewed the progress of the Coalition’s campaign against ISIL in Iraq and Syria, and stressed the importance of continued close coordination between the United States and Turkey to build on these successes,” the release added.
Over the recent months, Aleppo became a major battleground in Syria between the army and militants, with the government troops seeking to liberate the city. The Russian reconciliation center said Wednesday that only 1 square mile of the city's territory was still under the insurgents’ control.
Turkey currently hosts over 3 million of Syrian refugees. Earlier in the day, Turkish Foreign Ministry's press secretary Huseyin Muftuoglu said that Turkish hospitals could receive sick and injured Aleppo citizens.
