The United States and Russian Federation have agreed to extend the cease-fire in Syria to the city of Aleppo, which despite everything on Wednesday was the scene of heavy combat between rebels and forces allied with Syrian President Bashar al Assad, the U.S. State Department reported in a statement.
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Kerry said the United States was coordinating closely with Russian Federation to finalize strengthened monitoring of the extension of the cessation of hostilities to Aleppo.
“It is critical that Russian Federation redouble its efforts to influence the regime to abide fully by the cessation”, the State Department spokesman said in a statement announcing the ceasefire.
Russia, an ally of Assad, will be charged with ensuring that his government abides by the terms of the ceasefire, Toner said, while the US does its part with rebel groups trying to unseat him.
Aleppo has seen fierce fighting between the warring sides in the past two weeks after government forces began targeting the city.
The U.N. Security Council also was due to meet later Wednesday to discuss the escalation.
According to media reports, at least three women were killed and 17 others wounded in a rebel rocket attack on a hospital in Aleppo.
Feltman says Aleppo has been subject to “systematic destruction”, including from opposition shelling of government-controlled neighborhoods, and that the violence and killing must stop.
Meanwhile, France will host talks next week with the Saudi, Qatari, Turkish and UAE foreign ministers on the breakdown in the Syrian peace process, government spokesman Stephane Le Foll said on Wednesday. “That means the regime and the opposition alike”.
As previously, it will not apply to the self-proclaimed Islamic State or the al-Qaeda-affiliated Al Nusra Front.
“I am horrified by the further death and destruction in Aleppo”, added Stephen O’Brien, the U.N.’s undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief.
In battles on Wednesday between rebels and government forces in western Aleppo, opposition forces said they were forced to retreat by heavy aerial bombing.
British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft, who called for the emergency meeting on Aleppo, demanded to know how Syrian President Bashar Assad and his allies can say they are protecting their people and justify the encirclement and assault on Aleppo including the shelling of hospitals and schools.
Renewed fighting betw-een regime and rebel for-ces has centred on Syria’s second city Aleppo.
“(Aleppo) is to Syria what Sarajevo was to Bosnia”, France’s United Nations ambassador Francois Delattre said.
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The diplomatic push seeks to restore peace talks aimed at ending a five-year war that has left more than 270,000 dead and forced millions from their homes.
