After the creation of security zones in Syria, Russia and Assad’s army will launch an offensive on the city of Deir ez-Zor
Beginning May 1, Russian military aircraft have ceased military flights in the de-escalation zones in Syria in accordance with the memorandum, Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Sergei Rudskoy told reporters.
"From 00:00 on May 1, the use of the Russian Air Force aircraft in the areas corresponding to the de-escalation zones defined by the memorandum was terminated," he said.
The memorandum envisages the creation of four zones of de-escalation in the province of Idlib as well as seven other regions of Syria. According to the document, beginning May 6 any clashes between government troops and armed groups in these zones should cease.
At the same time, the signing the memorandum does not mean stopping the fight against the terrorists of the "Islamic state" and "Jabhat al-Nusra," Rudskoy said.
Following this the Syrian state troops will direct the main efforts to attack Palmyra and de-blocking of Deir ez-Zor, with the support of the Russian aviation, said Sergei Rudskoy.
"The main efforts will be aimed at developing an offensive east of Palmyra and the subsequent de-blocking of the city of Deir ez-Zor, which has been under siege for more than three years, as well as the liberation of the north-eastern territories in the Aleppo province along the Euphrates River," Rudskoy said.
He noted that "the establishment of zones of de-escalation will allow the government troops to free up a significant number of troops. The Russian military service will continue to support the Syrian armed forces to destroy the formations of the international terrorist organization ISIL. "