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Russia, US cancel UN Security Council meeting amid fragile Syria ceasefire
As part of a ceasefire agreement that took root on Monday, the United States promised Russian Federation that the two powers would begin combined air strikes if the truce between President Bashar al-Assad and rebel forces held for seven days.
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The UN Security Council on Friday canceled a planned meeting over disagreements between Russian Federation and the United States over disclosing details of the ceasefire.
Russian Federation on Friday has accused the United States of refusing to share documents with the UN Security Council outlining a joint agreement aimed at halting the fighting in Syria.
Syria’s foreign ministry is asking the United Nations to condemn U.S. aggression and require it to respect Syrian sovereignty.
Moscow supports President Bashar al-Assad, while Washington backs some rebel groups fighting to oust the Syrian leader.
Russian Federation on Friday said the Syrian army had initially withdrawn but returned to its positions after being fired on by rebels, who in turn say they saw no sign of government forces ever leaving their positions.
“Although the ceasefire agreement is bilateral, only one side is truly implementing it”, defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.
Under the US-Russia deal, if the truce lasts seven days and humanitarian access is granted, Moscow and Washington are to work together to target jihadists including the Islamic State group (ISIS).
Two aid convoys destined for Aleppo were still stuck on the Turkish border after several days, while the sides argued over how the supplies were to be delivered.
Although the Assad regime reportedly withdrew from the Castello Road that links to opposition-held areas of Aleppo in order to allow aid to pass through, the Syrian opposition insist that the regime made no such moves.
A strike list issued by the US on Saturday said it had carried out a strike at Deir al-Zor against five Islamic State supply routes, as well as strikes near Raqqa and elsewhere in Syria. As a result, the adoption of UN Security Council resolution in support of the deal is under a threat, the diplomat added.
The Syrian Obervatory for Human Rights said at least three people had been killed.
Though U.S. military officials say they had informed their Russian counterparts of plans for attack, adding that “coalition forces would not intentionally strike a known Syrian military unit”, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Konashenkov laid blame for the deaths squarely with the U.S.
The Syrian army said its position was briefly overrun by Islamic State after the air strikes, but the ground had since been recaptured.
“The United States will not compromise operational security”, the official said.
Hours-long fighting and shelling erupted in neighborhoods on the edges of Damascus on Friday, with activists and residents calling the clashes the heaviest in the Syrian capital in weeks.
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One US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said initial reports appeared to confirm the incident involving a small group of US forces.