Rebels Reject Russians' Chance to Make 'Safe Exit' From Aleppo

Syrian rebels have rejected a Russian offer of a "safe exit" from Aleppo coupled with a demand that they withdraw by Friday evening.

“This is completely out of the question. We will not give up the city of Aleppo to the Russians and we won’t surrender,” Zakaria Malahifji of the Fastaqim rebel group told Reuters.

Russia’s defense ministry said an exit by rebels and civilians would be safe and that it would bring the air strikes to a halt.

Malahifji reminded Russia that they’ve stated in the past that there’s no such thing as a “safe exit” in this particular case.

“It’s not true. Civilians and fighters are not leaving. Civilians are afraid of the regime, they don’t trust it. And the fighters are not surrendering,” he said.

“Russia halted its air strikes on Aleppo in mid-October to allow a humanitarian pause for civilians and rebels to leave the city in safety,” Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Adow said. “But Syrian government jets and helicopters have their raids on the city dropping barrel bombs, cluster bombs and bunker busters.”

According to an Al Jazeera, the most recent attacks on Aleppo have taken place in the western part of the city.

“May God punish them for the air strikes that keep targeting us around the clock,” Abu Ahmad, a western Aleppo resident, told Al Jazeera. “The artillery and tank shells do not stop day and night, but we have no plans to escape.”

Twelve civilians were killed and 200 were wounded after new fighting on Thursday, which came one day before the 14-hour “humanitarian pause,” reported The Associated Press.