Russia helps clear mines in Aleppo, offers humanitarian aid: ministry

Russian engineer troops have cleared mines in an area of nearly 70 hectares in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo during the past 24 hours, the Defense Ministry's Center for Syrian reconciliation said Tuesday.

In the past 24 hours, Russian servicemen from the International Mine Action Center have swept mines in an area of 69.8 hectares, 68 buildings and along 11.3-km roads, defused 686 explosive hazardous objects including 479 improvised explosive devices, a statement from the ministry said.

The reconciliation center has also provided Aleppo residents with 4.4 tons of humanitarian aid including food, school kits and necessities, it said.

Syrian rebels captured eastern Aleppo in 2012. Syrian government troops and allied forces retook it recently in a massive offensive.

Russia and Turkey brokered a nationwide truce between government forces and the main opposition groups from Dec. 30 and they also serve, together with Iran, as guarantors for the two-day Astana peace talks that kicked off Monday.

The nearly six-year civil war in Syria has killed more than 300,000 people and displaced nearly 11 million others.

(APD)