The cease-fire extension is part of the peace deal announced in late February by the International Syria Support Group, which is led by the US and Russian Federation.
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“I believe everyone knows and can conclude that there could be no return to the political talks in Geneva if a ceasefire in and around Aleppo is not observed”, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told reporters in Berlin. “That means the regime and the opposition alike”.
Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, a close Syrian ally, urged support for the Russian-American efforts and a peace agreement, and “an end to all provocations”.
Violence had ticked up dramatically in Aleppo in recent days, and multiple hospitals and medical centers were shelled by militants on both sides.
“A truce will be in place in Aleppo for 48 hours from 1:00am (local time) on Thursday”, a statement from Damascus’s army command said. It did not elaborate and there was no immediate explanation for the discrepancy.
Syrian-Americans protest the violence in Aleppo in NY.
The fighting “needs to stop”, he said.
Under pressure from Russian Federation and the United States, the Syrian army agreed on Wednesday to respect a two-day truce in the war-ravaged city of Aleppo.
“The horrific fighting and bombardment in recent days, especially in and around Aleppo, is creating new areas with endless suffering and no access for humanitarians”, Jan Egeland, who heads an global humanitarian task force for Syria, said in Geneva. Such dynamics could cause any cease-fire to easily unravel again, particularly with no clear mechanism for control or accountability.
In announcing the agreement on May 4, the U.S. State Department also said Moscow and Washington will coordinate to strengthen monitoring of the new arrangement. Over the last two weeks, hospitals and civilian areas in the divided city have come under attack from government warplanes, as well as shelling from rebel forces. According to state television, the army blames the insurgents, which it has labelled “terrorists”, for the deaths of dozens of civilians from rocket and mortar attacks launched from the rebel-held part of Aleppo.
Some of the heaviest clashes in Aleppo in months continued on Wednesday as rebel forces pressed an offensive against regime troops on the city’s western outskirts, a monitor said.
“Since the beginning of the (Syrian) conflict, Physicians for Human Rights has documented more than 360 attacks on some 250 medical facilities”, United Nations chief Ban Ki-Moon said.
Meanwhile, Isil said it has advanced in the strategic Shaer gas fields in Syria’s central Homs province.
There was no comment from the Syrian government on the reported capture of the soldier.
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But given the various, unfulfilled USA threats throughout the Arab country’s conflict – from declaring Assad’s days “numbered” five years ago to promising military action if chemical weapons were used – it was unclear what effect Kerry’s ultimatum might have.And it’s unlikely that the Obama administration, so long opposed to an active American combat role in Syria, would significantly boost its presence beyond the 300 special forces it has authorized thus far in the heart of a US presidential election season.
