– On the air strikes that destroyed a Red Crescent convoy in rebel-held territory on Monday: “Those convoys were in the area of the militants, the area under the control of the terrorists”.
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US Secretary of State John Kerry called for aircraft over humanitarian routes in northern Syria grounded in order to facilitate aid deliveries.
Zakaria Malahifji, head of the Aleppo-based Fastaqim rebel faction’s political office, said it was the most intense bombardment since April.
His comments came as U.S. secretary of state John Kerry and Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov were preparing to meet in an attempt to revive the shattered ceasefire. The two sides have also blamed each other since the attack. “Russia and the regime must do their part or this will have no chance”.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported at least 30 strikes on rebel-held districts during the night and early today.
Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday called for an immediate grounding of aircraft in what he described as “key areas” of Syria – including where aid is delivered – as a first step toward restoring a tattered cease-fire negotiated with Russian Federation aimed at halting the war.
Shortly after the truce ended, a United Nations aid convoy was hit, killing 20 humanitarian workers and destroying 18 trucks carrying food for desperate civilians in Aleppo province.
Egeland said the United Nations also hoped to deliver aid to rebel-besieged towns of Foua and Kufreya in Idlib and government-blockaded Madaya and Zabadani near the Lebanese border within days.
U.S. officials believe Russian aircraft were responsible for the strike, but Moscow has denied involvement and the Russian Defence Ministry said on Wednesday a U.S. Predator drone was in the area when the convoy was attacked.
“We will advise on the exact locations once the convoy has actually reached those locations”, he added.
USA officials question whether Russian Federation is able or willing to control forces under the control of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
He says the war is only likely to “drag on” because of continued external support for his opponents.
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Syrian President Bashar Assad said Thursday that U.S. airstrikes that killed over 60 of his troops in the country’s east lasted for at least an hour and were “definitely intentional”, and blamed the Americans for the collapse of a ceasefire agreement co-brokered with Russian Federation.
