Aleppo’s fragile truce extended for 72 hours

Russia’s defense ministry said a “regime of calm” truce in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo and parts of Latakia province had been extended “for 72 hours beginning at 1 a.m. on Saturday” (1700 ET on Friday), Syrian state news agency SANA reported.

A fragile local truce had been in place for Aleppo city since early on Wednesday. In northern Latakia province, it first took effect on April 29, after a wider truce deal in western Syria brokered by Washington and Moscow broke down.

READ MORE: What happens when Aleppo falls?

Photo Gallery: Aleppo destruction

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Photo Gallery: Aleppo destruction

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A boy rides a bicycle near damaged buildings in the rebel held area of Old Aleppo, Syria May 5, 2016. (Reuters)

A man walks as he holds the hand of an injured boy after an airstrike in the rebel held area of old Aleppo, Syria April 22, 2016. (Reuters)

Children walk near garbage in al-Jazmati neighbourhood of Aleppo, Syria April 22, 2016. (Reuters)

Smoke rises after airstrikes on the rebel-held al-Sakhour neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria April 29, 2016. (Reuters)

In this image made from video and posted online from Validated UGC, a Civil Defense worker carries a child after airstrikes hit Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, April 28, 2016. (AP)