'Too little, too late': Russia to halt strikes on Aleppo for 8 hours on Thursday

Moscow: Russian and Syrian armed forces will pause attacks on the Syrian city of Aleppo for eight hours on Thursday so that civilians and rebels can leave the city, the Russian defence ministry said on Monday.

"On October 20 from 0800 (0500 GMT) until 1600, a humanitarian pause will be implemented in the area of Aleppo. For that period, Russia's air force and Syrian government forces will halt air strikes and firing from other weapons," said Russian defence ministry official Sergei Rudskoy.

Too little too late

A US State Department spokesman says an eight-hour pause in attacks by Russian and Syrian forces on rebel-held eastern districts of Aleppo "would be a good thing," but he cautions that "it's a bit too little, too late."

Spokesman Mark Toner, speaking to reporters in Washington, said the people of Aleppo "have been subjected to near constant bombardment and air strikes" that has killed many civilians and leveled much of the city's civilian infrastructure. He said the goal is "to starve out and to drive out the opposition and civilians who've held on there for so long."

The Russian and Syrian militaries say they will observe a "humanitarian pause" between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Oct. 20 to allow civilians and militants safe passage out of the city.