Opposing Forces Move Closer To Supporting Aleppo Ceasefire, Official Says

A weekly 48-hour cease-fire in Aleppo is one step closer to reality as Russia has agreed to support the action to allow aid to reach besieged areas soon – provided all sides agree to honor the temporary truce, Reuters reported Friday. Moscow said it was ready to start the first "humanitarian pause" next week. U.N. Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura has long called for a 48-hour halt in fighting each week to allow humanitarian aid delivery and medical evacuations from both rebel-held eastern and government-controlled western Aleppo. He welcomed the Russian Defense Ministry tweet and said the U.N. humanitarian team "is now set to mobilize itself to respond to this challenge.” "Our plan is to...