The United States has demanded that Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad’s forces halt their bombardment of the city of Aleppo and help restore a nationwide ceasefire.
In calls to the UN peace envoy for Syria and to the lead opposition negotiator, US Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday said, the priority was a durable, nationwide cessation.
A truce was called in February between Assad’s forces and a coalition of rebels but has since begun to break down, particularly in the divided and besieged city of Aleppo.
Fierce bombing has continued in the city, with heavy civilian casualties, and Russia has made it clear it has no intention of reining in its ally Assad’s forces.
With the peace process hanging by a thread, Kerry is scheduled to fly to Geneva today for talks with UN envoy Staffan de Mistura and the Saudi and Jordanian foreign ministers.
Once Syria’s economic hub, Aleppo has suffered some of the worst fighting in a conflict that has killed more than 270,000 people and displaced millions.