Meanwhile, rebel shelling into government-held parts of Syria’s second city Aleppo killed at least 38 civilians on Saturday, a war monitor said, as Syrian government forces continued their offensive to completely encircle rebel-held parts of the city.
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The government advance put its forces within striking distance of a major supply route for the rebels, effectively putting opposition-held areas under siege.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) on Monday said nine people were killed by Syrian opposition artillery fire on government-controlled neighbourhoods of Aleppo.
Around 200,000 people remain in the opposition-held eastern sectors of Aleppo, which has been divided between government and rebel control since shortly after fighting in the city erupted in mid-2012.
More than 270,000 Syrians have been killed since the conflict began in March 2011.
“Syrian regime forces with Russian firepower in recent weeks have intensified their efforts to isolate and encircle opposition forces in Aleppo”, said the USA official.
The shelling of government-held neighborhoods and intense street fighting came days after the advance by the government side towards the Castello Road.
The death toll, which included nine women, is likely to rise due the number of severely injured people, the Observatory said.
The Syrian military strike hit in the town of Darkush, located near the Turkish border, where rebels, including the al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front, largely control the area.
Assad is supported by Moscow, which launched an air campaign in Syria in September, Iranian troops and Lebanese Shi’ite Hezbollah fighters.
The army announced on Wednesday that it was observing a 72-hour nationwide cease-fire for the Eid Al-Fitr holiday that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Russian forces have also aided Syria’s government in attempting to crush militants of the Islamic State in the country, as have a U.S.-led coalition.
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The open-ended February “cessation of hostilities” truce, which was meant to smooth talks to end the war, was agreed with many opposition militias, but did not include the al Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front or ISIS.
