Putin rejects Russian request for Aleppo strikes
BEIRUT - Russian president's spokesman says Vladimir Putin has rejected the military's request for the resumption of airstrikes in Syria on the rebel-held eastern part of the city of Aleppo.
Dmitry Peskov says the president turned down the Russian military's request on Friday amid a new rebel offensive underway in the contested Syrian city.
Peskov says that Putin considers it "inadvisable to resume airstrikes on Aleppo," and wants to have humanitarian corridors out of Aleppo's rebel-held districts stay open both for rebels and civilians to leave the city.
Peskov noted that the "humanitarian pause" will give Washington time to honor its pledge to separate moderate rebels from al-Qaida linked militants in eastern Aleppo. He added, however, that Russia retains the right to offer all possible support to the Syrian army.
