A high-ranking source confirmed to Al Mayadeen that the evacuation of military academy officers trapped in Aleppo was facilitated through Russian mediation. 

The source clarified that "the Syrian government did not engage in direct negotiations with Turkiye; rather, the discussions were conducted between Moscow and Ankara."

He further stated that "Turkiye negotiated with the al-Nusra Front and exerted pressure on them to release the 650 officers, who were students at the academy," refuting media reports that claimed, "the militants and al-Nusra Front agreed to release the officers after they surrendered to them."

In this context, the source confirmed to Al Mayadeen that the officers "resisted until the very end" before being evacuated to safe areas in a Russian-mediated evacuation.

General Command of SAA

Earlier today, the General Command of the Syrian Army and Armed Forces announced that the terrorist organizations had lifted the siege on the students of the Assad Military Engineering Academy in Aleppo. The SAA successfully facilitated their safe exit, ensuring their arrival in the city of Homs, where necessary medical care and treatment were provided to the injured.

In a statement, the General Command indicated that this was done through joint Syrian-Russian military-political coordination.

The statement emphasized that the students and officers "remained steadfast in the face of the terrorists, defending the academy from the moment the attack on the city of Aleppo began." It further highlighted their "courage" as they confronted the terrorists, who attempted to storm the academy using various medium and heavy weapons, as well as advanced drones.

فيديو يظهر خروج طلاب أكاديمية الهندسة العسكرية في #حلب بوساطة روسية من معامل الدفاع في منطقة السفيرة التي تسيطر عليها الجماعات المسلحة إلى مناطق الجيش السوري.#الميادين#سوريا #روسيا#العدوان_واحد pic.twitter.com/XfwpRgYvKo

— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) December 4, 2024

The statement adds that the students and officers moved to the town of al-Waha in the al-Safira area, where they were once again surrounded by terrorist groups, who had gathered from multiple axes and were armed with heavy vehicles, including tanks, artillery, machine guns, and drones.

The statement pointed out that several students and officers were martyred and others were injured.

Terrorists pushed 20 km away from Hama

This development followed the SAA's successful operation earlier today, where it pushed armed terrorist groups more than 20 km away from the Hama's neighborhoods, an Al Mayadeen correspondent reported.

Our correspondent also noted that the city is experiencing a normal working day following a very difficult night due to a misleading media campaign that urged residents to stay indoors.

He also reported hearing the sounds of battles, which have now moved 20 km away from the city after the terrorists retreated towards the northwestern countryside of Hama.

The current battles are concentrated between the SAA and the terrorist groups in the northwest of Hama and along the Zayn al-Abidin Mountain axis in the northeast of the city.

In Aleppo, our correspondent reported that a successful Russian-mediated evacuation has moved students from the Military Engineering Academy to safety.