Aleppo fighting 'pause' is 'false-flag propaganda and is not being respected'

A British aid worker has said that a supposed three-hour daily 'pause' in attacks on besieged Aleppo is not being respected by Syrian government forces.

Plans for a regular break in attacks on rebel-held parts of the city by president Bashar al-Assad's forces and their Russian allies were announced yesterday by Moscow.

They are supposedly intended to allow in vital humanitarian supplies for civilians trapped inside the city.

However charity worker Tauqir 'Tox' Sharif from East London told ITV News that the offer appeared to be "false-flag propaganda" and there was no break in fighting in reality.

"These so-called three-hour pauses in bombing are just not being seen on the ground," he said.

"There is no such thing as a pause."

The city has been bombarded by Syrian state forces which have also been accused of using banned chemical weapons against residents in the Aleppo.

Mr Sharif, of East London, said that his charity 'Live Updates from Syria' had been trying for three days to get food and medical supplies into the city without success.

Credit: Reuters

He said that a route opened up into the city by rebel forces over the weekend was only around 500 metres wide, leaving aid convoys highly vulnerable to attacks as they attempted to make the dangerous crossing.

His team tried to enter the city with six tonnes of food and a large collection of medical supplies but were forced to turn back after they were almost hit.

It meant aid was only "trickling in" with small convoys which are more likely to avoid detection.

"Any one that is brave enough to go in is going in with very small vehicles," he said.

"It isn't a case of decent amounts, substantial amounts of aid going into Aleppo."