Conflicting information emerges about ceasefire agreement in Aleppo

Rebel leaders and a representative of pro-government forces said late on Sunday that a ceasefire in Aleppo had resumed. However, an armed unit run by Hezbollah, an ally of the Syrian government, denied the existence of the agreement.

The leaders of two rebel groups, Nureddin al-Zinki and Ahrar al-Sham, said the new ceasefire came into effect hours after violence broke a previous truce brokered by Türkiye and Russia to facilitate the evacuation of civilians and rebel fighters from rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo.

Syrian soldiers patrol the streets of Aleppo. (Source: EPA/VNA)

According to Mr. Yasser al-Youssef, leader of the Nureddin al-Zinki group, the new agreement was reached after negotiations between Russia and the Turkish Red Crescent Society, according to which the first group of civilians and wounded people will be evacuated at dawn on December 15.

Mr Youssef added that an agreement for rebel fighters to withdraw from the city had also been agreed, but did not provide further details. Group spokesman Nureddin al-Zinki confirmed that the new ceasefire agreement would take effect from 6am local time on December 15 (11am Vietnam time).

Meanwhile, an official from the military alliance supporting the Syrian government also confirmed the ceasefire agreement and added that about 15,000 people will be evacuated from the villages of Foua and Kefraya, while rebel fighters and their families will be allowed to leave Aleppo.

However, a source close to the Syrian government denied the agreement. A military information unit run by the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon confirmed that the information was "completely untrue." The source added that the negotiations were difficult and complicated due to tensions on the ground.

Another source also close to the Syrian government confirmed that there were no negotiations and no agreement reached.

Türkiye and Russia brokered a ceasefire in Aleppo on December 13, but fierce fighting continued in the city on December 14 after Iran set new conditions for the ceasefire.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Türkiye, Russia and Iran will hold a meeting in Moscow on December 27 to discuss a political solution to the more than five-year conflict in Syria./.

According to Vietnamplus