Earnest says most indications are that violence has dropped significantly in Syria due to the new U.S. -Russia deal.
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Implementing the truce has been complicated by the presence of jihadists not covered by the ceasefire and mainstream rebels on some of the same frontlines.
The White House said he expressed “deep concern” that Syria continues to block the delivery of humanitarian aid, despite decreased violence across the country.
“The truce, as we have warned, and we told the (US) State Department – will not hold out”, the rebel official said, pointing to the continued presence of a United Nations aid convoy at the Turkish border awaiting permission to travel to Aleppo.
As part of the truce agreement, both sides are expected to pull back and create a demilitarised zone around the Castello Road, considered the only route into the rebel-held east of Aleppo.
Russian Federation has accused US-backed Syrian rebels of failing to hold their end of the bargain in a ceasefire which only began four days ago.
Outside Aleppo, Syrian forces that had been stationed along Castello road – a main artery into rebel-held areas of the city – were replaced by Russian troops, Rami Abdurrahman of the Observatory said.
He said the Syrian army has fully complied with the truce that went into force Monday, while the opposition units have violated it 144 times since then. The Russian military also claimed that the Syrian opposition has used the truce to regroup and strengthen its forces.
The message was given during a Friday phone call between Secretary of State John KerryJohn KerryUS to Russia: “No joint Syrian operations if aid can’t get through Pentagon: “Not all terms” of Syrian cease-fire being met A clear signal on Georgia’s future MORE and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the department said”. “It was worked out as a bilateral U.S. -Russia arrangement”, spokesman Mark Toner stated.
“This is one of the most serious violations of the cease-fire”, al-Shami said via Skype.
“We are prepared to extend the cessation of hostilities for a further 72 hours”, senior Russian officer Viktor Poznikhir said.
Russian Federation said on Friday that U.N. Security Council endorsement of the ceasefire, which Moscow hoped would occur next week during an annual U.N. meeting of world leaders, appeared unlikely because the United States did not want to share documents detailing the agreement with the 15-member body. Churkin, speaking to reporters, suggested there was lack of unity in the US administration toward the agreement. Russian Federation intervened with its air force on the side of President Bashar Assad’s government a year ago, turning the tide of the war in his favour.
However the powerful Nour el-Din el-Zinki opposition group said that government forces were still on the road, the news agency said.
Aleppo-based activist Bahaa al-Halaby said humanitarian conditions in the eastern neighborhoods of Syria’s largest city are deteriorating. “There are wounded people and others who need food”, Mr al-Halaby said.
In addition to rebel-controlled eastern Aleppo, UN convoys with the right permits are willing to go to Moadameya, Al-Waer, Talbiseh, Douma and other besieged areas, according to Egeland.
Opposition activists and state media are reporting clashes between troops and insurgents as well as shelling in two neighborhoods of the Syrian capital, Damascus.
Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army rebels are pushing south in northern Syria from the towns of al-Rai and Azaz towards the Islamic State-held town of al-Bab, supported by tanks and jets, security sources said, clashing with the jihadist group.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said they had come out to prevent aid entering rebel-held eastern Aleppo until there were guarantees that supplies would also be sent to the besieged Shi’ite villages of Kefraya and al-Foua which have been surrounded by insurgents since April 2015.
It says Thursday that government forces will not start pulling out until the rebels begin to do the same.
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Experts say the deal will be particularly hard to implement in areas where Jabhat Fateh al-Sham has formed strong alliances with other rebel groups.
