By Adham Kako and Mohamed Misto
EASTERN GHOUTA, Syria (AA) - Jaysh al-Islam, an armed opposition group in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta district, says it has struck an agreement with Russia to evacuate injured group members from the besieged Damascus suburb.
According to a Monday statement released by the group, Russia will allow injured Jaysh al-Islam fighters to leave opposition-held parts of Eastern Ghouta under the supervision of Russian and UN personnel.
On Feb. 24, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2401, which calls for a month-long ceasefire in Eastern Ghouta to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Three days later, Russia announced its own cease-fire initiative calling for daily, five-hour “humanitarian pauses” in the opposition-held district.
Home to some 400,000 civilian residents, Eastern Ghouta has remained the target of a crippling siege by the Syrian regime -- of which Russia is a major ally -- for the last five years.
The regime has stepped up its siege in recent months, preventing the delivery of badly-needed humanitarian aid and leaving thousands of local residents in need of medical treatment.