Share

Assad regime unilaterally announces end of Syria truce

It accused rebel groups of carrying out more than 300 truce violations across the country and of failing to “commit to a single element” of the deal.

Advertisement

The Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin accused the United States of violating its commitment of not exposing any of the Syrian force operation bases; he believed the incident as a collapse of the US-Russian truce in Syria. Washington has called it a mistake.

Kerry had earlier said that this ceasefire was “holding but fragile” but that the other half of the agreement – that Assad allow United Nations aid convoys to besieged areas – was incomplete.

The Observatory reported 35 strikes in and around Aleppo since the truce ended.

Earlier, Moscow appeared to bury hopes that the truce would last.

Britain, Denmark and Australia have since admitted that their planes took part in the airstrike – which Moscow says killed at least 62 Syrian soldiers.

The United Nations said it had received government approval to reach almost all the besieged and hard-to-reach areas where it sought to bring aid, but access to many areas was still constrained by fighting, insecurity and administrative delays.

Shortly after Syria’s armed forces declared that the truce was dead and blamed opposition rebels for undermining it, Kerry noted that the cease-fire had not produced the desired reduction in violence and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid.

However, Saturday’s coalition strikes near Deir Ezzor Airport – in a part of eastern Syria not covered by the ceasefire – sparked a furious row between the USA and Russian ambassadors to the United Nations outside an emergency Security Council meeting called on the matter.

“Our arrangement is with Russian Federation, which is responsible for the Syrian regime’s compliance, so we expect Russian Federation to clarify their position”, state department spokesman John Kirby said.

An emergency UN Security Council meeting called by Moscow to discuss the attack saw an exchange between the United States and Russian Federation reminiscent of Cold War-era verbal jousting.

The US-Russia brokered truce aimed to allow humanitarian access and joint attacks against militant groups, which are not covered by the agreement, including Daesh and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham.

Zakaria Malahifji, speaking to Reuters from the Turkish city of Gaziantep, also indicated rebel groups were preparing for combat: “I imagine in the near future there will be action by the factions”.

Kerry, who was meeting with Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, reacted testily to the declaration, but implied there was time to save the deal.

Update 10.38am: The UN humanitarian aid agency has temporarily suspended all convoys in Syria following a deadly air strike on aid trucks the previous night.

Rebel groups however have denied reports that the Syrian Army has been pulling back from the Castello Road, putting their reluctance to move down to their wish not to be the first to leave their positions. He added that “it’s time to end the grandstanding and time to do the real work”.

And Russia questioned the timing of the strike, two days before information sharing and cooperation between Moscow and Washington would have theoretically started.

The military said insurgents had failed to adhere to the agreement.

American officials said, however, that conditions were still not right for U.S.

United Nations officials said the world body and Red Crescent convoy was delivering assistance to the town of Uram al-Kubra, west of Aleppo city.

Up to 275,000 people remain trapped in eastern Aleppo without food, water, proper shelter or medical care, he added.

Advertisement

Syria government warplanes meanwhile bombed rebel positions in Hama province, killing dozens of jihadist fighters, state media reported.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on the Syria conflict