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Russia stops airstrikes in Syria ceasefire areas Russia grounds its warplanes in Syria
(35 minutes later)
MOSCOW — A top military official says Russia has halted all airstrikes in areas of Syria where armed groups, including government forces, said they would abide by a cease-fire. MOSCOW — Russia has grounded its warplanes in Syria to help secure a cease-fire brokered by Moscow and Washington that entered into force Saturday, a top military official said.
“The Russian Federation has completely stopped attacks in the ‘green zone’, that is to say those areas and armed units that have sent to us requests for cease-fire,” Maj. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy said Saturday at a briefing in Moscow. Lt.-Gen. Sergei Rudskoi of the General Staff of Russia’s military said that while Russia will continue air strikes against the Islamic State group and al-Qaida’s branch in Syria, Jabhat al-Nusra, it is keeping its aircraft on the ground for now “to avoid any possible mistakes.”
He said 17 armed groups have said they would abide by the cease-fire. Rudskoi said that 17 opposition units have contacted the Russian military to adhere to the truce that became effective at midnight local time.
He said the Russian military had established hotlines to exchange information with the U.S. military in order to help monitor the cease-fire and quickly respond to any conflict situations.
Rudskoi said that Russia has given the U.S. maps showing the location of opposition groups pledging to abide by the cease-fire as well as IS and al-Nusra units. He said 74 opposition units including more than 6,100 fighters have agreed to adhere to the truce.
The U.S., in its turn, also has provided the Russian Defense Ministry with similar maps and its own list of opposition units, which have agreed to respect the cease-fire.
Rudskoi said that according to the U.S.-Russian agreements, a rebel unit that accidentally comes under attack should contact Russian or U.S. representatives who would quickly resolve the incident.
A coordination center at the Hemeimeem air base in Syria’s coastal province of Latakia where Russian warplanes are based has 61 officers, who negotiate with groups willing to join the cease-fire and coordinate the deliveries of humanitarian aid.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.