Ghouta Op Against Terrorists Will Continue in Parallel with Helping Civilians Escape

"We will continue to fight terrorism... And the Ghouta operation is a continuation of the fight against terrorism," Assad said in broadcast comments to journalists, RT reported.

"There is no contradiction between a truce and combat operations. The progress achieved yesterday and the day before in Ghouta by the Syrian Arab Army was made during this truce," the President added.

"Therefore we must continue with the operation in parallel with opening the way for civilians to leave," he said, adding that an “overwhelming majority” of the civilian population in Eastern Ghouta “wants to break out from terrorists’ hands."

The West remembers “humanity” only when the Syrian Army is advancing, Assad stressed, referring to the ongoing outcry about the eastern Ghouta operation.

The Syrian leader has dismissed Western allegations of chemical weapons use by the government. Such accusations are only used as a tool of blackmail and a pretext to attack Syrian Army, he stated.

Assad, in his turn, accused the US-led coalition of effectively operating as an air force for the ISIL and Al-Nusra front terrorist groups.

In February, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution proposing a 30-day humanitarian ceasefire in Syria, which does not apply to members of the ISIL, Al-Nusra Front or any other terrorist organizations. In Eastern Ghouta, a daily humanitarian pause was introduced on February 27 in order to help civilians leave.

The militants continue to prevent civilians from escaping Eastern Ghouta, shelling the humanitarian corridor. Only two children have managed to escape the besieged area so far, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.