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Relative calm as humanitarian pause begins in Syria’s Aleppo

This frame grab from video provided by this militant video by Fatah al-Sham Front that is consistent with independent AP reporting, shows black smoke rises from a suicide bomb attacked Syrian government forces positions, in western Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict through local contacts, reported that rebels attacked government positions with two explosives-laden vehicles. Syrian rebels launched a fresh wave of attacks on western districts of Aleppo Thursday as airstrikes on a rebel-held village south of the contested city killed civilians, activists said. (militant video by Fatah al-Sham Front, via AP)
This frame grab from video provided by this militant video by Fatah al-Sham Front that is consistent with independent AP reporting, shows black smoke rises from a suicide bomb attacked Syrian government forces positions, in western Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict through local contacts, reported that rebels attacked government positions with two explosives-laden vehicles. Syrian rebels launched a fresh wave of attacks on western districts of Aleppo Thursday as airstrikes on a rebel-held village south of the contested city killed civilians, activists said. (militant video by Fatah al-Sham Front, via AP) This frame grab from video provided by this militant video by Fatah al-Sham Front that is consistent with independent AP reporting, shows black smoke rises from a suicide bomb attacked Syrian government forces positions, in western Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict through local contacts, reported that rebels attacked government positions with two explosives-laden vehicles. Syrian rebels launched a fresh wave of attacks on western districts of Aleppo Thursday as airstrikes on a rebel-held village south of the contested city killed civilians, activists said. (militant video by Fatah al-Sham Front, via AP)

By Associated Press 1 min read

BEIRUT (AP) – A halt in fighting announced by Russia to allow rebels and residents of Syria’s besieged eastern parts of Aleppo has gone into effect and activists are reporting a relative calm in the city.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says that during the early hours of the 10-hour “humanitarian pause” on Friday, it recorded no major military action by the Syrian and allied forces or by the opposition fighters.

A pro-government Facebook news platform Aleppo Shahba News Network says designated corridors have been opened for the fighters and civilians but the Observatory says no one has used them so far.

Rebel spokesman Yasser Al-Youssef says helicopters are hovering over the area.

The U.N. estimates 275,000 people are trapped in the eastern, rebel-held part of the divided city of Aleppo.