Terrorists reject withdrawal from Syria's Aleppo

Foreign-backed terrorist groups have rejected to withdraw their members from northern Syrian city of Aleppo amid an announcement by Damascus and Moscow of a halt in airstrikes on militant positions in the city.

Al-Farouk Abu Bakr, a top militant commander in the Saudi-backed Ahrar al-Sham terrorist group, said in a statement on Tuesday that the militants would fight on until the downfall of the Syrian government.

Zakaria Malahifji, the political officer of the Turkey-backed Fastaqim group, said, "The factions completely reject any exit, this is surrender."

The Syrian government says groups linked to al-Qaeda or inspired by the group have massive presence in Aleppo.

The halt in airstrikes is aimed at granting civilians and militants the opportunity to evacuate and withdraw from the city and for the wounded to seek treatment.

When initially announced on October 17, the pause was scheduled to take effect on Tuesday, from 8:00 (0500 GMT) until 16:00, to allow civilians and militants not affiliated with terrorists to leave the city.

Meanwhile, Russia has warned against letting Daesh terrorists flee the northern Iraqi city of Mosul for eastern Syria, saying Moscow will take necessary military and diplomatic measures to prevent this.

Speaking at a news briefing in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow would take appropriate military and political decisions to stop Daesh terrorists from fleeing northern Iraq.

SS