The timing of the humanitarian truce in the suburb of Al Ghouta, east of Damascus, depends on the humanitarian actions of the "terrorist" groups. This was stated today by the spokesman of the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov. "It depends on how the terrorist groups act, it depends on whether they will shoot, if their provocations continue, it depends mainly on these factors," Peskov explained. Yesterday, February 26, Russian Defense Minister Sergej Shoighu announced the entry into force, starting today, of a humanitarian truce from 9 to 14 (local time) in the area east of Damascus. Today the United Nations confirmed the resumption of fighting in the suburb of al Ghouta, east of Damascus.
The clashes have resumed despite Moscow's announcement of a daily humanitarian truce starting today. “We note that the fighting continues (…), making it impossible to send humanitarian convoys,” said Jens Laerke, spokesman for the UN Humanitarian Affairs Coordination Office (OCHA) in Geneva. Earlier, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that "the Syrian regime launched a total of nine raids after 9 (local time), including six artillery rounds, two barrel bombs and an aerial bombardment" in the locality of Saqba, east of Damascus, without causing casualties. For its part, the official “Sana” news agency has announced that the rebels have launched rockets aimed at hitting the humanitarian corridors near the Al Rafidain camp, in an attempt to prevent civilians from leaving the region.