UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura said Damascus is prepared to suspend its aerial bombardment of Aleppo for six weeks for a trial ceasefire

UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura said Damascus is prepared to suspend its aerial bombardment of Aleppo for six weeks for a trial ceasefire.

“The Syrian pledge offered a glimmer of hope although it is unclear when it would take effect,” De Mistura said.

The Syrian army captured several villages north of the city on Tuesday inflicting heavy losses among terrorists.

De Mistura has been working since October to negotiate what are called "local freezes" in the Syrian fighting that would start with Aleppo.

During a recent visit to the country, he held a long meeting with Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.

De Mistura said he would return to Syria as soon as possible with the aim of announcing a freeze in the fighting in the northern city.

De Mistura also wants more humanitarian aid access to Aleppo as the first step toward a wider solution. "Let's be frank, I have no illusions because based on past experiences, this will be a difficult issue to be achieved," he said.

On Monday, al-Watan newspaper reported that government forces aimed to completely surround Aleppo this week in a major offensive against the rebels.

The Revolutionary Command Council (RCC), an alliance of militant fighters that does not belong to hardline groups, accused de Mistura of being "biased" and taking a "dishonest position towards the revolution of the Syrian people".