Syrian soldiers enter Shiite towns as siege is lifted

Syrian soldiers entered Nubul and Zahra in the northern province of Aleppo on Thursday, one day after breaking a long-imposed siege on the two Shiite towns, a source told Xinhua.

Government soldiers were gladly received by citizens of Nubul and Zahra, after the troops managed to break a four-year-old siege imposed on both towns by the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front and the Ahrar Al-Sham movement, the source said on condition of anonymity.

Syrian state TV aired footage Thursday from the towns, showing townsfolk happily welcoming soldiers marking the end of the siege, whilst Syrian warplanes dropped food parcels to citizens who had suffered throughout the siege.

Warring parties in Syria have resorted to sieges as a tactic to exhaust one another's strength, but many innocent civilians suffered as food and medical supplies dwindle.

The United Nations has repeatedly appealed to both parties to lift the siege and allow in humanitarian assistance.

Recent developments are part of an ongoing campaign in the countryside of Aleppo, where Syrian government troops, supported by Russian air cover, achieved substantial progress against opposition militants, the source said.

In Geneva, the third round of Syria peace talks, launched earlier this week amid intensive global attention, ground to a halt Wednesday night.

During the previous three days, substantive discussions were held up by "unresolved procedural issues," according to a statement by office of UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura.

Mistura said the talks would resume no later than Feb. 25. Endit