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Syria army announces a new anti-terrorism force

Associated Press
Published | Updated

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian President Bashar Assad, right, speaks with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin in Damascus, Syria, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016. Russia has backed Assad with vast military support as he fights to put down an uprising that is approaching its sixth year. (SANA via AP) (The Associated Press)

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian President Bashar Assad, center right, meets with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, center left, in Damascus, Syria, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016. Russia has backed Assad with vast military support as he fights to put down an uprising that is approaching its sixth year. (SANA via AP) (The Associated Press)

Syria's military has announced it is forming a new commando force, calling on volunteers interested in "achieving the final victory against terrorism" to apply.

The announcement Tuesday named the new anti-terrorism force the Fifth Corps.

This comes a year after the Syrian armed forces announced the formation of the Fourth Corps, also an anti-terrorism force, soon after Russia began its military operations alongside the Syrian government.

The army declaration read on State TV also comes as the pace of government warnings to the residents of the besieged rebel-held part of eastern Aleppo city rises. State TV on Tuesday aired announcements urging armed opposition groups to allow civilians to exit the besieged enclave through government-designated corridors. Another warning urged residents to cooperate with government forces.