Britain, France and the United States have requested for an urgent United Nations Security Council meeting on the escalating campaign in Syria&#39;s second city of Aleppo, diplomats have said. 
 
The meeting was likely to be held at 10 am (local time) today, the diplomats said on Saturday. 
 
Intense air strikes toppled buildings and killed at least 45 civilians in Aleppo yesterday, two days after the Syrian army announced an offensive to retake the rebel-held east of the city. 
 
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon earlier said he was appalled by the &quot;chilling&quot; upsurge in fighting in Aleppo and warned that the use of advanced weaponry in the battleground city could amount to war crimes. 
 
Ban cited reports of air strikes involving the use of incendiary weapons, bunker buster bombs and other powerful munitions in the offencive launched by the Syrian army two days ago to recapture the city. 
 
He warned that &quot;the apparent systematic use of these types of indiscriminate weapons in densely populated areas may amount to war crimes,&quot; a statement from his spokesman said. 
 
A week-long ceasefire agreed between the United States and Russia ended on Monday and efforts to revive the truce failed. 
 
(AFP)

The move comes in the wake of the air strikes that toppled buildings and killed 45 in the Syrian city of Aleppo on Saturday

Britain, France and the United States have requested for an urgent United Nations Security Council meeting on the escalating campaign in Syria's second city of Aleppo, diplomats have said. The meeting was likely to be held at 10 am (local time) today, the diplomats said on Saturday. Intense air strikes toppled buildings and killed at least 45 civilians in Aleppo yesterday, two days after the Syrian army announced an offensive to retake the rebel-held east of the city. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon earlier said he was appalled by the "chilling" upsurge in fighting in Aleppo and warned that the use of advanced weaponry in the battleground city could amount to war crimes. Ban cited reports of air strikes involving the use of incendiary weapons, bunker buster bombs and other powerful munitions in the offencive launched by the Syrian army two days ago to recapture the city. He warned that "the apparent systematic use of these types of indiscriminate weapons in densely populated areas may amount to war crimes," a statement from his spokesman said. A week-long ceasefire agreed between the United States and Russia ended on Monday and efforts to revive the truce failed. (AFP)

Syria conflict: Britain, France, US seek urgent Security Council meet

Syria&#39;s nearly week-old ceasefire was facing a crucial deadline on Monday as the Syrian army said the truce could expire later in the day after a particularly bloody weekend. 
 
The deal came into effect on the evening of September 12, backed by world powers hoping that it could bring an end to Syria&#39;s brutal five-year conflict. 
 
But after several days of relative calm, fighting escalated across major battlefronts, culminating in a deadly US-led air raid on a Syrian army position and fresh strikes on Aleppo. 
 
The strike on Syrian soldiers has strained relations between the deal&#39;s primary sponsors, Washington and Moscow, who had said they would increase cooperation against jihadist groups if the truce held for a week. 
 
A senior military source in Damascus told AFP that the truce would expire Monday at 7:00 pm (1600 GMT) if no extension was announced. 
 
&quot;The current situation leaves much to be desired,&quot; Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said, blasting the US-led strike on Syria&#39;s army which he said &quot;is still the only party respecting the ceasefire&quot;. 
 
&quot;All of this puts the ceasefire in danger,&quot; he said, also without commenting on whether the truce would be extended.&nbsp; 
 
Since September 12, a total of 26 civilians, including eight children, have been killed in areas where the truce had been set to take hold, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 
 
The bloodiest day for civilians was Sunday, when a barrel bomb attack killed 10 in a southern rebel-held town and one woman was killed in the first raids on Aleppo since the truce began. 
 
On Monday, fierce clashes were reported from all across Damascus as Syria&#39;s military launched &quot;a major military operation&quot; against rebels. 
 
&quot;The army blocked a huge attack by the Faylaq al-Sham group and is beginning a major military operation on the edges of the capital,&quot; a military source said. 
 
But forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad were once again on the back foot near the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, where they have been battling Islamic State group jihadists since last year. 
 
The Observatory said IS militants seized Jabal Therdeh, a set of hills overlooking the Deir Ezzor airbase -- from Russia-backed Syrian soldiers on Sunday. 
 
A military source in Deir Ezzor told AFP on Monday the army had begun a new operation backed by Russian and Syrian warplanes to roll back IS&#39;s advance. 
 
&quot;The army has redeployed around Jabal Therdeh after a fierce attack by Daesh,&quot; he said, using the Arabic acronym for IS. 
 
Syria&#39;s military accused the US-led air coalition of paving the way for IS, after a strike by coalition forces on Jabal Therdeh killed at least 62 Syrian soldiers on Saturday. 
 
Senior government adviser Buthaina Shaaban told AFP on Sunday Damascus believed the raid had been &quot;intentional&quot;. 
 
Russia called the strike a &quot;bad omen&quot; for its deal with the US to halt Syria&#39;s war, which has killed more than 300,000 people since it erupted in 2011. 
 
Under the agreement, fighting was to halt across Syria and humanitarian aid would reach civilians living in increasingly dire humanitarian conditions. 
 
On Monday, convoys of food and medical aid were en route to two hard-to-reach areas in Syria, said David Swanson, a spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 
 
The first would reach the rebel-held town of Talbisseh, where at least two people were killed by shelling during the truce. 
 
Swanson said the aid would be enough for 84,000 people in the area. 
 
Another 78,000 people living in and around Greater Orum in the north of Aleppo province would also receive wheat flour and health supplies, Swanson told AFP. 
 
But aid convoys to the rebel-held districts of Aleppo city were still stuck on Syria&#39;s border with Turkey Monday, he said. 
 
UN humanitarian chief Stephen O&#39;Brien said he was &quot;pained&quot; that Aleppo&#39;s residents had still not received promised aid deliveries. 
 
&quot;I am pained and disappointed that a United Nations convoy has yet to cross into Syria from Turkey, and safely reach eastern Aleppo, where up to 275,000 people remain trapped without food, water, proper shelter or medical care,&quot; O&#39;Brien said.&nbsp; 
 
(AFP)

The US air raid that killed as many as 83 Syrian soldiers has strained relations between the ceasefire's primary sponsors -- the US & Russia

Syria's nearly week-old ceasefire was facing a crucial deadline on Monday as the Syrian army said the truce could expire later in the day after a particularly bloody weekend. The deal came into effect on the evening of September 12, backed by world powers hoping that it could bring an end to Syria's brutal five-year conflict. But after several days of relative calm, fighting escalated across major battlefronts, culminating in a deadly US-led air raid on a Syrian army position and fresh strikes on Aleppo. The strike on Syrian soldiers has strained relations between the deal's primary sponsors, Washington and Moscow, who had said they would increase cooperation against jihadist groups if the truce held for a week. A senior military source in Damascus told AFP that the truce would expire Monday at 7:00 pm (1600 GMT) if no extension was announced. "The current situation leaves much to be desired," Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said, blasting the US-led strike on Syria's army which he said "is still the only party respecting the ceasefire". "All of this puts the ceasefire in danger," he said, also without commenting on whether the truce would be extended. Since September 12, a total of 26 civilians, including eight children, have been killed in areas where the truce had been set to take hold, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The bloodiest day for civilians was Sunday, when a barrel bomb attack killed 10 in a southern rebel-held town and one woman was killed in the first raids on Aleppo since the truce began. On Monday, fierce clashes were reported from all across Damascus as Syria's military launched "a major military operation" against rebels. "The army blocked a huge attack by the Faylaq al-Sham group and is beginning a major military operation on the edges of the capital," a military source said. But forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad were once again on the back foot near the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, where they have been battling Islamic State group jihadists since last year. The Observatory said IS militants seized Jabal Therdeh, a set of hills overlooking the Deir Ezzor airbase -- from Russia-backed Syrian soldiers on Sunday. A military source in Deir Ezzor told AFP on Monday the army had begun a new operation backed by Russian and Syrian warplanes to roll back IS's advance. "The army has redeployed around Jabal Therdeh after a fierce attack by Daesh," he said, using the Arabic acronym for IS. Syria's military accused the US-led air coalition of paving the way for IS, after a strike by coalition forces on Jabal Therdeh killed at least 62 Syrian soldiers on Saturday. Senior government adviser Buthaina Shaaban told AFP on Sunday Damascus believed the raid had been "intentional". Russia called the strike a "bad omen" for its deal with the US to halt Syria's war, which has killed more than 300,000 people since it erupted in 2011. Under the agreement, fighting was to halt across Syria and humanitarian aid would reach civilians living in increasingly dire humanitarian conditions. On Monday, convoys of food and medical aid were en route to two hard-to-reach areas in Syria, said David Swanson, a spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The first would reach the rebel-held town of Talbisseh, where at least two people were killed by shelling during the truce. Swanson said the aid would be enough for 84,000 people in the area. Another 78,000 people living in and around Greater Orum in the north of Aleppo province would also receive wheat flour and health supplies, Swanson told AFP. But aid convoys to the rebel-held districts of Aleppo city were still stuck on Syria's border with Turkey Monday, he said. UN humanitarian chief Stephen O'Brien said he was "pained" that Aleppo's residents had still not received promised aid deliveries. "I am pained and disappointed that a United Nations convoy has yet to cross into Syria from Turkey, and safely reach eastern Aleppo, where up to 275,000 people remain trapped without food, water, proper shelter or medical care," O'Brien said. (AFP)

Syria truce may end Monday evening

The US military said on Tuesday that three strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria in the past six days may have caused civilian casualties. 
 
US Central Command said in a statement that strikes near Dayz Az Zawr on September 7, near Raqqa on September 10 and near Ash Shaddadah on September 12 may have resulted in civilian casualties. 
 
(Reuters)

US Central Command said in a statement that strikes near Dayz Az Zawr, Raqqa and Ash Shaddadah may have resulted in civilian casualties

The US military said on Tuesday that three strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria in the past six days may have caused civilian casualties. US Central Command said in a statement that strikes near Dayz Az Zawr on September 7, near Raqqa on September 10 and near Ash Shaddadah on September 12 may have resulted in civilian casualties. (Reuters)

US says strikes in Syria may have resulted in civilian casualties

Iran said on Monday that Russia has stopped using an Iranian air base for strikes in Syria, a week after Moscow announced that its fighter-bombers had flown from a base in Iran to hit targets in Syria. 
 
&quot;Russia has no base in Iran and is not stationed here. They did this (operation) and it is finished for now,&quot; Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency. 
 
Long-range Russian Tupolev-22M3 bombers and Sukhoi-34 fighter-bombers used Nojeh air base, near the city of Hamedan, in north-west Iran to launch the air strikes last week, in a move which underscored Moscow&#39;s increasingly close ties with Tehran. 
 
But the deployment, the first time a foreign power has used an Iranian base since World War Two, triggered criticism from some Iranian parliamentarians who said it breached the Islamic Republic&#39;s constitution. 
 
Iranian defence minister Hossein Dehghan dismissed that criticism on Sunday, but also chided Moscow for publicising the move, describing it as showing off and a &quot;betrayal of trust&quot;. 
 
&quot;We have not given any military base to the Russians and they are not here to stay,&quot; Dehghan was quoted as saying by the Fars news agency. 
 
He said there has been &quot;no written agreement&quot; between the two countries and the &quot;operational cooperation&quot; was temporary and limited to refuelling. 
 
(Reuters)

This is the first time a foreign power has used an Iranian base since World War II

Iran said on Monday that Russia has stopped using an Iranian air base for strikes in Syria, a week after Moscow announced that its fighter-bombers had flown from a base in Iran to hit targets in Syria. "Russia has no base in Iran and is not stationed here. They did this (operation) and it is finished for now," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency. Long-range Russian Tupolev-22M3 bombers and Sukhoi-34 fighter-bombers used Nojeh air base, near the city of Hamedan, in north-west Iran to launch the air strikes last week, in a move which underscored Moscow's increasingly close ties with Tehran. But the deployment, the first time a foreign power has used an Iranian base since World War Two, triggered criticism from some Iranian parliamentarians who said it breached the Islamic Republic's constitution. Iranian defence minister Hossein Dehghan dismissed that criticism on Sunday, but also chided Moscow for publicising the move, describing it as showing off and a "betrayal of trust". "We have not given any military base to the Russians and they are not here to stay," Dehghan was quoted as saying by the Fars news agency. He said there has been "no written agreement" between the two countries and the "operational cooperation" was temporary and limited to refuelling. (Reuters)

Iran: Russian use of air base for Syria strikes over 'for now'

A shocked Syrian boy pictured sitting in an ambulance covered in blood and dust after an airstrike became a symbol of civilian suffering in Aleppo Thursday, drawing worldwide attention. 
 
As international concern mounted, President Bashar al-Assad&#39;s key ally Russia said it was ready to halt fire in the battleground northern city for 48-hour &quot;humanitarian pauses&quot; from next week. 
 
The announcement followed pleas from the United Nations and the European Union for a halt in the fighting in divided Aleppo to allow aid deliveries. 
 
The haunting image of four-year-old Omran sitting dazed and bloodied in an ambulance reverberated around the globe, much like the photo of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi whose body washed ashore on a Turkish beach last year. 
 
Omran was pulled from the rubble after an air raid on Wednesday in the rebel-held district of Qaterji in the southeast of Aleppo, which has been devastated by the five-year war. 
 
&quot;I&#39;ve taken a lot of pictures of children killed or wounded in the strikes that rain down daily,&quot; said photographer Mahmoud Rslan who captured the image. 
 
&quot;Usually, they are either unconscious or crying. But Omran was there, speechless, staring blankly&nbsp;as if he did not quite understand what had happened to him,&quot; he told AFP by telephone. 
 
Opposition-held neighbourhoods in the city are frequently targeted by air strikes including barrel bombs dropped by regime helicopters. 
 
Syrian and Russian aircraft have been carrying out intense air strikes this week on opposition strongholds across northern Syria to prevent rebels sending reinforcements to Aleppo, a monitoring group said. 
 
Air strikes on Idlib city, 60 kilometres (35 miles) southwest of Aleppo, killed 25 people including 15 civilians on Wednesday, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 
 
Regime aircraft continued to pound rebel positions across Idlib province on Thursday as well as parts of Aleppo province, it said. 
 
&quot;Regime and Russian aircraft are carrying out dozens of raids every day on Idlib province and the west of Aleppo province to prevent reinforcements reaching rebel positions,&quot; said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman. 
 
Aleppo has been the scene of intense fighting since July 31, when the &quot;Army of Conquest&quot; alliance of rebels and jihadists launched a major offensive to break a regime siege of opposition-controlled districts. 
 
But neither side has achieved a decisive victory despite hundreds dead on both sides. 
 
Despite its air power, the regime has been unable to gain headway in street-to-street battles, said Abdel Rahman. 
 
&quot;The rebels have put all their forces into this battle and regime forces have been exhausted,&quot; he said. 
 
On Thursday, the regime continued to pound the rebel-held east of Aleppo where 146 civilians including 22 children have died in air strikes since 31 July. 
 
In Geneva, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura cut short the weekly meeting of the humanitarian taskforce headed by the United States and Russia, in protest at the failure of warring parties to allow aid to reach civilians. 
 
&quot;Not one single convoy in one month has reached any of the humanitarian besieged areas,&quot; he told reporters. 
 
Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov later announced that Moscow was &quot;ready to implement the first 48-hour &#39;humanitarian pause&#39; to deliver humanitarian aid to Aleppo residents&quot; next week. 
 
The Syrian conflict has killed more than 290,000 people and displaced millions since it began in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government demonstrations. 
 
More than 17,700 people are estimated to have died in custody in Syria since then, an average of more than 300 each month, Amnesty International said Thursday. 
 
Syrian authorities were committing torture on a &quot;massive scale&quot; in government prisons including beatings, electric shocks, rape and psychological abuse that amount to crimes against humanity, the watchdog said. 
 
Syria&#39;s war now involves a range of combatants including Western- and Gulf-backed rebels, jihadists, Kurds and pro-regime forces supported by Russia and Iran. 
 
On Thursday regime aircraft bombed Kurdish positions for the first time since the conflict erupted, hitting several checkpoints and bases in the northeastern city of Hasakeh, the Observatory said. 
 
The raids followed heavy clashes a day earlier between Kurdish fighters and pro-government militia that left 11 people dead. 
 
The two sides share a common enemy in the Islamic State jihadist group but there have been tensions between them in Hasakeh. 
 
Washington regards the Kurds as the most effective fighting force on the ground in Syria and has provided weapons and special forces military advisers. 
 
(AFP) 
&nbsp;

The haunting image of four-year-old Omran sitting dazed and bloodied in an ambulance has reverberated around the globe

A shocked Syrian boy pictured sitting in an ambulance covered in blood and dust after an airstrike became a symbol of civilian suffering in Aleppo Thursday, drawing worldwide attention. As international concern mounted, President Bashar al-Assad's key ally Russia said it was ready to halt fire in the battleground northern city for 48-hour "humanitarian pauses" from next week. The announcement followed pleas from the United Nations and the European Union for a halt in the fighting in divided Aleppo to allow aid deliveries. The haunting image of four-year-old Omran sitting dazed and bloodied in an ambulance reverberated around the globe, much like the photo of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi whose body washed ashore on a Turkish beach last year. Omran was pulled from the rubble after an air raid on Wednesday in the rebel-held district of Qaterji in the southeast of Aleppo, which has been devastated by the five-year war. "I've taken a lot of pictures of children killed or wounded in the strikes that rain down daily," said photographer Mahmoud Rslan who captured the image. "Usually, they are either unconscious or crying. But Omran was there, speechless, staring blankly as if he did not quite understand what had happened to him," he told AFP by telephone. Opposition-held neighbourhoods in the city are frequently targeted by air strikes including barrel bombs dropped by regime helicopters. Syrian and Russian aircraft have been carrying out intense air strikes this week on opposition strongholds across northern Syria to prevent rebels sending reinforcements to Aleppo, a monitoring group said. Air strikes on Idlib city, 60 kilometres (35 miles) southwest of Aleppo, killed 25 people including 15 civilians on Wednesday, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Regime aircraft continued to pound rebel positions across Idlib province on Thursday as well as parts of Aleppo province, it said. "Regime and Russian aircraft are carrying out dozens of raids every day on Idlib province and the west of Aleppo province to prevent reinforcements reaching rebel positions," said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman. Aleppo has been the scene of intense fighting since July 31, when the "Army of Conquest" alliance of rebels and jihadists launched a major offensive to break a regime siege of opposition-controlled districts. But neither side has achieved a decisive victory despite hundreds dead on both sides. Despite its air power, the regime has been unable to gain headway in street-to-street battles, said Abdel Rahman. "The rebels have put all their forces into this battle and regime forces have been exhausted," he said. On Thursday, the regime continued to pound the rebel-held east of Aleppo where 146 civilians including 22 children have died in air strikes since 31 July. In Geneva, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura cut short the weekly meeting of the humanitarian taskforce headed by the United States and Russia, in protest at the failure of warring parties to allow aid to reach civilians. "Not one single convoy in one month has reached any of the humanitarian besieged areas," he told reporters. Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov later announced that Moscow was "ready to implement the first 48-hour 'humanitarian pause' to deliver humanitarian aid to Aleppo residents" next week. The Syrian conflict has killed more than 290,000 people and displaced millions since it began in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government demonstrations. More than 17,700 people are estimated to have died in custody in Syria since then, an average of more than 300 each month, Amnesty International said Thursday. Syrian authorities were committing torture on a "massive scale" in government prisons including beatings, electric shocks, rape and psychological abuse that amount to crimes against humanity, the watchdog said. Syria's war now involves a range of combatants including Western- and Gulf-backed rebels, jihadists, Kurds and pro-regime forces supported by Russia and Iran. On Thursday regime aircraft bombed Kurdish positions for the first time since the conflict erupted, hitting several checkpoints and bases in the northeastern city of Hasakeh, the Observatory said. The raids followed heavy clashes a day earlier between Kurdish fighters and pro-government militia that left 11 people dead. The two sides share a common enemy in the Islamic State jihadist group but there have been tensions between them in Hasakeh. Washington regards the Kurds as the most effective fighting force on the ground in Syria and has provided weapons and special forces military advisers. (AFP)

Photo of dazed Syrian boy symbolises Aleppo's plight

Syrian and Russian warplanes have repeatedly used incendiary weapons in &quot;disgraceful&quot; attacks on civilians in northern Syria, Human Rights Watch charged Tuesday. 
 
The rights group said it had documented the use of incendiary weapons at least 18 times since June that had resulted in more than a dozen injuries.&nbsp;There was &quot;compelling evidence&quot; that Russia was supporting Syrian government planes in those attacks, the New York-based watchdog said. 
 
&quot;The Syrian government and Russia should immediately stop attacking civilian areas with incendiary weapons,&quot; said HRW arms director Steve Goose.&nbsp;&quot;The disgraceful incendiary weapon attacks in Syria show an abject failure to adhere to international law restricting incendiary weapons,&quot; he said. 
 
When dropped from aircraft, incendiary weapons leave distinctive trails of explosives in the sky and trigger small, intense fires upon contact.&nbsp;They were used widely during the Vietnam war and are banned by the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. 
 
HRW documented attacks with such weapons since early June, including two cases on August 7 that hit opposition-controlled parts of the cities of Aleppo and Idlib. 
 
&quot;I could clearly see the flames bursting,&quot; said Idlib resident Mohammad Taj Al-Din Othman, who supplied HRW with photos of the attack.&nbsp;&quot;Within 10 minutes, there were more strikes. The fire was unbelievable, it turned night into day.&quot; 
 
A civil defence volunteer told HRW: &quot;The fire took over everything, houses, cars, oil tanks, and even grass.&quot;&nbsp;The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said it too had documented the use of thermite, a type of incendiary substance, by Russian planes in Idlib, Aleppo and Deir Ezzor provinces, and Raqqa. 
 
And earlier this month, activists in Daraya, a besieged rebel-held town near Damascus, accused the regime of using banned chemical agent napalm against residents there.&nbsp;All sides of Syria&#39;s complex war have exchanged accusations of attacks against civilians and use of unconventional weapons, including chlorine and mustard gas. 
 
HRW said the use of incendiary weapons in Syria had &quot;increased significantly&quot; since Russia began its air war in support of Damascus on September 30, 2015.&nbsp;In a letter to HRW in November, Russia acknowledged that &quot;improper use&quot; of incendiary weapons had resulted in &quot;significant humanitarian damage&quot; in Syria. 
 
Since 2012, HRW has documented the use of four different incendiary weapons in Syria, all manufactured by the former Soviet Union.&nbsp;More than 290,000 people have been killed and millions forced to flee their homes since Syria&#39;s conflict erupted in March 2011. 
 
(AFP)

These were used widely during the Vietnam war, but are banned by the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons

Syrian and Russian warplanes have repeatedly used incendiary weapons in "disgraceful" attacks on civilians in northern Syria, Human Rights Watch charged Tuesday. The rights group said it had documented the use of incendiary weapons at least 18 times since June that had resulted in more than a dozen injuries. There was "compelling evidence" that Russia was supporting Syrian government planes in those attacks, the New York-based watchdog said. "The Syrian government and Russia should immediately stop attacking civilian areas with incendiary weapons," said HRW arms director Steve Goose. "The disgraceful incendiary weapon attacks in Syria show an abject failure to adhere to international law restricting incendiary weapons," he said. When dropped from aircraft, incendiary weapons leave distinctive trails of explosives in the sky and trigger small, intense fires upon contact. They were used widely during the Vietnam war and are banned by the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. HRW documented attacks with such weapons since early June, including two cases on August 7 that hit opposition-controlled parts of the cities of Aleppo and Idlib. "I could clearly see the flames bursting," said Idlib resident Mohammad Taj Al-Din Othman, who supplied HRW with photos of the attack. "Within 10 minutes, there were more strikes. The fire was unbelievable, it turned night into day." A civil defence volunteer told HRW: "The fire took over everything, houses, cars, oil tanks, and even grass." The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said it too had documented the use of thermite, a type of incendiary substance, by Russian planes in Idlib, Aleppo and Deir Ezzor provinces, and Raqqa. And earlier this month, activists in Daraya, a besieged rebel-held town near Damascus, accused the regime of using banned chemical agent napalm against residents there. All sides of Syria's complex war have exchanged accusations of attacks against civilians and use of unconventional weapons, including chlorine and mustard gas. HRW said the use of incendiary weapons in Syria had "increased significantly" since Russia began its air war in support of Damascus on September 30, 2015. In a letter to HRW in November, Russia acknowledged that "improper use" of incendiary weapons had resulted in "significant humanitarian damage" in Syria. Since 2012, HRW has documented the use of four different incendiary weapons in Syria, all manufactured by the former Soviet Union. More than 290,000 people have been killed and millions forced to flee their homes since Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011. (AFP)

Syrian, Russian warplanes repeatedly using incendiary weapons: Human Rights Watch

US President Barack Obama said Thursday that he was &quot;not confident&quot; that Russia and President Vladimir Putin could be trusted as partners in trying to end Syria&#39;s bloody civil war. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m not confident that we can trust the Russians and (President) Vladimir Putin, which is why we have to test whether or not we can get an actual cessation of hostilities that includes an end to the kinds of aerial bombing and civilian death and destruction that we have seen carried out by the Assad regime,&quot; Obama said. 
 
&quot;We go into this without any blinders on.&quot; 
 
Obama expressed concern about Russia&#39;s military action in support of the Syrian regime, and urged Moscow to cooperate with Washington to find a way out of the crisis. 
 
&quot;The US remains prepared to work with Russia to try to reduce the violence and strengthen our efforts against Islamic State, al-Qaeda and Syria,&quot; Obama told reporters at the Pentagon. 
 
&quot;But Russia has failed to take the necessary steps. Given the deteriorating situation, it is time for Russia to show it is serious about pursuing these objectives,&quot; Obama said, following a meeting with his national security council. 
 
Russia and the United States back opposing sides in Syria&#39;s five-year war, which has left 280,000 people dead and forced half the population to flee their homes. 
 
Multiple rounds of international negotiations to end the war, which erupted in 2011 after the Assad regime unleashed a brutal crackdown against a pro-democracy revolt, have so far failed. 
 
Russia, an ally of Damascus, and the United States, which supports moderate rebels fighting to unseat Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, are nominally co-chairs of the international effort to bring the Syrian regime and armed opposition groups to the negotiating table as a step toward ending the war. 
 
Following heavy Russian air strikes on the outskirts of divided Aleppo city, US secretary of state John Kerry on Monday urged Russia to &quot;restrain&quot; itself and its ally in Damascus from &quot;offensive operations.&quot; 
 
(AFP) 
&nbsp;

Washington has urged Moscow to 'restrain' itself and its ally in Damascus from 'offensive operations'

US President Barack Obama said Thursday that he was "not confident" that Russia and President Vladimir Putin could be trusted as partners in trying to end Syria's bloody civil war. "I'm not confident that we can trust the Russians and (President) Vladimir Putin, which is why we have to test whether or not we can get an actual cessation of hostilities that includes an end to the kinds of aerial bombing and civilian death and destruction that we have seen carried out by the Assad regime," Obama said. "We go into this without any blinders on." Obama expressed concern about Russia's military action in support of the Syrian regime, and urged Moscow to cooperate with Washington to find a way out of the crisis. "The US remains prepared to work with Russia to try to reduce the violence and strengthen our efforts against Islamic State, al-Qaeda and Syria," Obama told reporters at the Pentagon. "But Russia has failed to take the necessary steps. Given the deteriorating situation, it is time for Russia to show it is serious about pursuing these objectives," Obama said, following a meeting with his national security council. Russia and the United States back opposing sides in Syria's five-year war, which has left 280,000 people dead and forced half the population to flee their homes. Multiple rounds of international negotiations to end the war, which erupted in 2011 after the Assad regime unleashed a brutal crackdown against a pro-democracy revolt, have so far failed. Russia, an ally of Damascus, and the United States, which supports moderate rebels fighting to unseat Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, are nominally co-chairs of the international effort to bring the Syrian regime and armed opposition groups to the negotiating table as a step toward ending the war. Following heavy Russian air strikes on the outskirts of divided Aleppo city, US secretary of state John Kerry on Monday urged Russia to "restrain" itself and its ally in Damascus from "offensive operations." (AFP)

US President Obama says not confident Putin can be trusted to cooperate in Syria

&nbsp;The United States called on Russia and the Syrian government on Monday to refrain from offensive operations in Syria, as fighting continued on the day US&nbsp;Secretary of State John Kerry hoped a political transition could begin.

Asked if he was dismayed August&nbsp;1 had come without a political transition to help end Syria&#39;s five-year civil war, Kerry said the target date was set earlier this year when there were hopes political talks could take hold amid a reduction in violence.

However, a &quot;cessation of hostilities&quot; that began in February has now all but unravelled. In the latest incident, a Russian military helicopter was shot down in Syria&#39;s rebel-held Idlib province, killing all five people on board.

&quot;It is critical, obviously, that Russia restrain both itself and the Assad regime from conducting offensive operations, just as it is our responsibility to get the opposition to refrain from engaging in those operations,&quot; Kerry told reporters.

&quot;These are important days to determine whether or not Russia and the Assad regime are going to live up to&quot; the effort to end the violence and to resume peace talks, Kerry said. &quot;The evidence thus far is very, very troubling to everybody.&quot;

US&nbsp;officials have suggested that a Russian and Syrian &quot;humanitarian operation&quot; for the besieged city of Aleppo is a ruse to evacuate civilians so that their forces can go after militants in the city who oppose Assad&#39;s rule. 
 
(Reuters)

In the latest incident, a Russian military helicopter was shot down in Syria's rebel-held Idlib province, killing all five people on board

The United States called on Russia and the Syrian government on Monday to refrain from offensive operations in Syria, as fighting continued on the day US Secretary of State John Kerry hoped a political transition could begin. Asked if he was dismayed August 1 had come without a political transition to help end Syria's five-year civil war, Kerry said the target date was set earlier this year when there were hopes political talks could take hold amid a reduction in violence. However, a "cessation of hostilities" that began in February has now all but unravelled. In the latest incident, a Russian military helicopter was shot down in Syria's rebel-held Idlib province, killing all five people on board. "It is critical, obviously, that Russia restrain both itself and the Assad regime from conducting offensive operations, just as it is our responsibility to get the opposition to refrain from engaging in those operations," Kerry told reporters. "These are important days to determine whether or not Russia and the Assad regime are going to live up to" the effort to end the violence and to resume peace talks, Kerry said. "The evidence thus far is very, very troubling to everybody." US officials have suggested that a Russian and Syrian "humanitarian operation" for the besieged city of Aleppo is a ruse to evacuate civilians so that their forces can go after militants in the city who oppose Assad's rule. (Reuters)

Russia must restrain itself, Assad from offensive Syria strikes: John Kerry

Dozens of families left the besieged opposition-held east of Syria&#39;s Aleppo city today through a &quot;humanitarian corridor&quot; to the government-held west, Syria&#39;s official SANA news agency reported. 
 
The evacuations came 48 hours after regime ally Russia announced that three humanitarian passages would be opened to allow civilians and surrendering fighters to cross from the besieged rebel-held districts of the city to government territory. 
 
&quot;This morning dozens of families left via the corridors identified to allow the exit of citizens besieged by terrorist groups in the eastern neighbourhoods,&quot; SANA reported. 
 
&quot;They were welcomed by members of the army and taken by bus to temporary shelters,&quot; it added. 
 
It also said &quot;a number&quot; of women over the age of 40 had left the rebel-held east and had been taken to shelters. 
 
The agency carried photos showing dozens of people, mostly women and children, walking past soldiers and boarding buses. 
 
State television also broadcast footage it said showed residents crossing from the east to the west.&nbsp; 
 
SANA added that &quot;armed men from eastern neighbourhoods of Aleppo&quot; had turned themselves in to army soldiers in Salaheddin district, without giving figures or showing pictures of the incident. 
 
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, confirmed that &quot;a number&quot; of civilians had left the east of the city through a passage in the Salaheddin neighbourhood. 
 
It had no exact figures for the number of people who had evacuated. 
 
Aleppo has been roughly divided between government control in the west and rebel control in the east since mid-2012, and the frontline runs through several neighbourhoods, including Salaheddin. 
 
The rebel-held side of the city has been effectively under government siege since July 7, when regime forces advanced to within firing range of the only remaining supply route to opposition neighbourhoods. 
 
The encirclement has led to food shortages and spiralling prices in the east, with fears of a humanitarian crisis for the estimated 250,000 still living there. 
 
(AFP)

The evacuations came 48 hours after regime ally Russia announced the opening of three passages for civilians to flee the city

Dozens of families left the besieged opposition-held east of Syria's Aleppo city today through a "humanitarian corridor" to the government-held west, Syria's official SANA news agency reported. The evacuations came 48 hours after regime ally Russia announced that three humanitarian passages would be opened to allow civilians and surrendering fighters to cross from the besieged rebel-held districts of the city to government territory. "This morning dozens of families left via the corridors identified to allow the exit of citizens besieged by terrorist groups in the eastern neighbourhoods," SANA reported. "They were welcomed by members of the army and taken by bus to temporary shelters," it added. It also said "a number" of women over the age of 40 had left the rebel-held east and had been taken to shelters. The agency carried photos showing dozens of people, mostly women and children, walking past soldiers and boarding buses. State television also broadcast footage it said showed residents crossing from the east to the west. SANA added that "armed men from eastern neighbourhoods of Aleppo" had turned themselves in to army soldiers in Salaheddin district, without giving figures or showing pictures of the incident. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, confirmed that "a number" of civilians had left the east of the city through a passage in the Salaheddin neighbourhood. It had no exact figures for the number of people who had evacuated. Aleppo has been roughly divided between government control in the west and rebel control in the east since mid-2012, and the frontline runs through several neighbourhoods, including Salaheddin. The rebel-held side of the city has been effectively under government siege since July 7, when regime forces advanced to within firing range of the only remaining supply route to opposition neighbourhoods. The encirclement has led to food shortages and spiralling prices in the east, with fears of a humanitarian crisis for the estimated 250,000 still living there. (AFP)

Dozens of families flee Aleppo through 'humanitarian corridor': Syria state news

US Secretary of State John Kerry&#39;s attempt to elicit Russian military cooperation in the fight against Islamic State in Syria suffered two potentially crippling blows on Thursday. 
 
First, the Syrian army said it had cut off all supply routes into the eastern part of the city of Aleppo, Syria&#39;s most important opposition stronghold and President Bashar al-Assad&#39;s government asked residents to leave the city. 
 
That move, US officials speaking on condition of anonymity said on Thursday, appeared to be an effort to pre-empt a US demand that Russia and Syria reopen a major road into the divided northern city before talks could begin on creating a joint intelligence center to coordinate air attacks against Islamic State. 
 
Then al Qaeda&#39;s Syrian branch announced on Thursday it was terminating its relationship with the global network created by Osama bin Laden and changing its name to remove what it called a pretext by the United States and other countries to attack Syrians. 
 
Although one US official called it &quot;a change in name only&quot;, the move complicates the American proposal to limit the Russians and Syrians to targeting only Nusra and IS, not other rebel groups supported by Washington and its allies in the coalition against Islamic State. 
 
&quot;By disavowing its ties to al Qaeda, which, incidentally, it did with al Qaeda&#39;s blessing Nusra has made it harder to isolate it from more moderate groups, some of whose members may join it now because it&#39;s more powerful than some of the groups they belong to now,&quot; said the official. 
 
US State Department spokesman John Kirby said Washington has been clear about its concerns over the announcement of the humanitarian corridor and that its view of the Nusra Front had not changed despite its name change. 
 
&quot;But we also remain committed to the proposals reached by the United States and Russia to better enforce the cessation of hostilities in Syria and provide the space needed for a resumption of political talks. If fully implemented in good faith, they can achieve a measure of success that has eluded us thus far,&quot; Kirby told Reuters. 
 
&quot;As the secretary made clear, however, we are pragmatic about these efforts, and we will look to Russia to meet its commitments as we will meet ours. That will be the primary, determining factor of success here,&quot; he added. 
 
The twin US goals in Syria have been ending the violence that already has claimed some 400,000 lives, according to United Nations estimates, and seeking a political process to replace Assad, whom President Barack Obama has said &quot;must go&quot;. 
 
But while Washington and Moscow have both expressed hope they can find a way to cooperate against Islamic State, Kerry&#39;s proposal was already in trouble due to the competing objectives of the Cold War-era foes as well as resistance from US military and intelligence officials. 
 
US officials questioned Russian and Syrian claims that their aim in evacuating civilians from Aleppo was to clear the way for humanitarian assistance to reach the besieged city, where 200,000-300,000 civilians remain with only two to three weeks of food on hand. 
 
&quot;Why would you evacuate a city that you wanted to send humanitarian aid to?&quot; asked one official. &quot;At first glance, that would appear to be a unilateral effort by Moscow and Assad to pre-empt Kerry&#39;s demand for ending the siege of Aleppo before starting negotiations on the larger issues. If the proposal isn&#39;t dead, it seems to be pretty badly wounded.&quot; 
 
UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura wants a deal as soon as possible so he can restart peace talks within a month and aid flows can resume. 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

Syrian army said it had cut off all supply routes into the eastern part of Aleppo, and Assad's government asked residents to leave the city

US Secretary of State John Kerry's attempt to elicit Russian military cooperation in the fight against Islamic State in Syria suffered two potentially crippling blows on Thursday. First, the Syrian army said it had cut off all supply routes into the eastern part of the city of Aleppo, Syria's most important opposition stronghold and President Bashar al-Assad's government asked residents to leave the city. That move, US officials speaking on condition of anonymity said on Thursday, appeared to be an effort to pre-empt a US demand that Russia and Syria reopen a major road into the divided northern city before talks could begin on creating a joint intelligence center to coordinate air attacks against Islamic State. Then al Qaeda's Syrian branch announced on Thursday it was terminating its relationship with the global network created by Osama bin Laden and changing its name to remove what it called a pretext by the United States and other countries to attack Syrians. Although one US official called it "a change in name only", the move complicates the American proposal to limit the Russians and Syrians to targeting only Nusra and IS, not other rebel groups supported by Washington and its allies in the coalition against Islamic State. "By disavowing its ties to al Qaeda, which, incidentally, it did with al Qaeda's blessing Nusra has made it harder to isolate it from more moderate groups, some of whose members may join it now because it's more powerful than some of the groups they belong to now," said the official. US State Department spokesman John Kirby said Washington has been clear about its concerns over the announcement of the humanitarian corridor and that its view of the Nusra Front had not changed despite its name change. "But we also remain committed to the proposals reached by the United States and Russia to better enforce the cessation of hostilities in Syria and provide the space needed for a resumption of political talks. If fully implemented in good faith, they can achieve a measure of success that has eluded us thus far," Kirby told Reuters. "As the secretary made clear, however, we are pragmatic about these efforts, and we will look to Russia to meet its commitments as we will meet ours. That will be the primary, determining factor of success here," he added. The twin US goals in Syria have been ending the violence that already has claimed some 400,000 lives, according to United Nations estimates, and seeking a political process to replace Assad, whom President Barack Obama has said "must go". But while Washington and Moscow have both expressed hope they can find a way to cooperate against Islamic State, Kerry's proposal was already in trouble due to the competing objectives of the Cold War-era foes as well as resistance from US military and intelligence officials. US officials questioned Russian and Syrian claims that their aim in evacuating civilians from Aleppo was to clear the way for humanitarian assistance to reach the besieged city, where 200,000-300,000 civilians remain with only two to three weeks of food on hand. "Why would you evacuate a city that you wanted to send humanitarian aid to?" asked one official. "At first glance, that would appear to be a unilateral effort by Moscow and Assad to pre-empt Kerry's demand for ending the siege of Aleppo before starting negotiations on the larger issues. If the proposal isn't dead, it seems to be pretty badly wounded." UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura wants a deal as soon as possible so he can restart peace talks within a month and aid flows can resume. (Reuters)

US effort to induce Russian support in fight against Islamic State in Syria suffers major setbacks

Al-Qaeda&#39;s Syrian affiliate Al-Nusra Front has executed 14 captured men it accused of fighting for President Bashar al-Assad, in retaliation for a regime advance near Damascus. 
 
A video distributed via the group&#39;s social media accounts showed 14 men, many with injuries including black eyes, stating their names as they lined up in pairs in front of the group&#39;s black flag. 
 
&quot;Implementation of the death sentence against a group of... regime prisoners because of their attack on Harira village in Wadi Barada,&quot; text on the video read. 
 
The footage showed the men being shot in the head simultaneously as they knelt in front of Al-Nusra fighters.&nbsp;Wadi Barada is an area in the Qalamun region of Syria&#39;s Damascus province and is mostly controlled by an array of opposition groups, including Al-Nusra. 
 
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said that Al-Nusra had threatened to execute prisoners if government forces entered Harira.&nbsp;The threats came in an earlier video in which one of the captured men warned that the group would kill 14 captives if the government attacked. 
 
Al-Nusra is the local affiliate of Al-Qaeda and has regularly carried out executions of government forces. 
 
In September 2015, it executed at least 56 regime fighters at a military airport in Idlib province in the northwest of the country.&nbsp;More than 280,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began in March 2011. 
 
(AFP0

A video distributed via the group's social media accounts showed 14 men, many with injuries including black eyes, stating their names

Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate Al-Nusra Front has executed 14 captured men it accused of fighting for President Bashar al-Assad, in retaliation for a regime advance near Damascus. A video distributed via the group's social media accounts showed 14 men, many with injuries including black eyes, stating their names as they lined up in pairs in front of the group's black flag. "Implementation of the death sentence against a group of... regime prisoners because of their attack on Harira village in Wadi Barada," text on the video read. The footage showed the men being shot in the head simultaneously as they knelt in front of Al-Nusra fighters. Wadi Barada is an area in the Qalamun region of Syria's Damascus province and is mostly controlled by an array of opposition groups, including Al-Nusra. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said that Al-Nusra had threatened to execute prisoners if government forces entered Harira. The threats came in an earlier video in which one of the captured men warned that the group would kill 14 captives if the government attacked. Al-Nusra is the local affiliate of Al-Qaeda and has regularly carried out executions of government forces. In September 2015, it executed at least 56 regime fighters at a military airport in Idlib province in the northwest of the country. More than 280,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began in March 2011. (AFP0

Al-Qaeda executes 14 pro-Assad fighters

At least 11 civilians, including three children, were killed in air strikes on a rebel-held town in Syria&#39;s northwestern Idlib province on Wednesday, a monitor said. 
 
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said it was unclear if the strikes on the town of Ariha in Idlib province were carried out by Syrian government or Russian war planes. 
 
The town is controlled by the Army of Conquest, a rebel alliance of mainly Islamist groups including Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front that holds almost all of Idlib province. 
 
Video uploaded by activists purportedly showed the aftermath of the strikes, with residents and civil defence workers picking through debris looking for survivors. 
 
Idlib has regularly been targeted by both Syrian government air strikes and raids carried out by its Russian ally. 
 
A longtime backer of the government in Damascus, Moscow stepped up its support for President Bashar al-Assad on September 30, when it began an air campaign aimed at bolstering regime positions. 
 
Elsewhere in the country, the Observatory said at least eight people were killed on Wednesday in the town of Rastan in central Homs province. 
 
Five of them died in air strikes on the town&#39;s market place, which also wounded dozens of people. Another three were killed in shelling earlier Wednesday. 
 
(AFP)

'It was unclear if the strikes on the town of Ariha in Idlib province were carried out by Syrian government or Russian war planes'

At least 11 civilians, including three children, were killed in air strikes on a rebel-held town in Syria's northwestern Idlib province on Wednesday, a monitor said. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said it was unclear if the strikes on the town of Ariha in Idlib province were carried out by Syrian government or Russian war planes. The town is controlled by the Army of Conquest, a rebel alliance of mainly Islamist groups including Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front that holds almost all of Idlib province. Video uploaded by activists purportedly showed the aftermath of the strikes, with residents and civil defence workers picking through debris looking for survivors. Idlib has regularly been targeted by both Syrian government air strikes and raids carried out by its Russian ally. A longtime backer of the government in Damascus, Moscow stepped up its support for President Bashar al-Assad on September 30, when it began an air campaign aimed at bolstering regime positions. Elsewhere in the country, the Observatory said at least eight people were killed on Wednesday in the town of Rastan in central Homs province. Five of them died in air strikes on the town's market place, which also wounded dozens of people. Another three were killed in shelling earlier Wednesday. (AFP)

Air strikes kill 11 including children in Syria's Idlib: Monitor

Russia announced a last minute 48-hour ceasefire for Syria&#39;s war-torn Aleppo late Wednesday, just hours after Washington warned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his ally Moscow that they must respect the nationwide truce agreed in February. 
 
The vital northern province of Aleppo has been ravaged on multiple fronts in a devastating war that has killed more than 280,000 people. 
 
Dozens of fighters were killed in a fresh bout of fighting between the regime, rebels, and jihadists south of Aleppo city on Wednesday, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 
 
Backed by Russian and government air strikes, pro-regime fighters are locked in battle with rebel groups and al-Qaeda affiliate al-Nusra Front for a string of villages lying in hilly terrain between strategic routes. 
 
&quot;On Russia&#39;s initiative, a &#39;regime of silence&#39; has been introduced in Aleppo for 48 hours from 00:01 16 June (2101 GMT Wednesday) with the goal of lowering the level of armed violence and stabilising the situation,&quot; the Russian defence ministry said. 
 
The statement did not specify who Russia has discussed the two-day ceasefire with. 
 
It accused al-Nusra of attacking various Aleppo neighbourhoods with multiple rocket launchers, as well as mounting a tank attack southwest of the city. 
 
The five-year conflict has drawn in world powers who back opposing sides -- including the United States which broadly supports the opposition and Russia on the side of Assad. 
 
&quot;Russia needs to understand that our patience is not infinite, in fact it is very limited with whether or not Assad is going to be held accountable,&quot; said the US secretary of state John Kerry on Wednesday. 
 
&quot;We also are prepared to hold accountable members of the opposition,&quot; he said after a meeting in Norway with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif. 
 
UN-hosted peace talks aimed at ending the conflict have been stalled since April, and a fragile ceasefire deal between the government and non-jihadist rebels has all but collapsed. 
 
&quot;It is very clear that the cessation of hostilities is frayed and at risk and that it is critical for a genuine cessation to be put in place,&quot; said Kerry. 
 
Efforts were underway, he said, to reach a new agreement &quot;in the next week or two&quot; to reinstate the ceasefire across Syria, leading to more humanitarian aid deliveries and a resumption of the peace process. 
 
Fresh Aleppo clashes&nbsp; 
 
Since fighting erupted in Aleppo province on Tuesday, at least 70 fighters in total have been killed and the villages of Zaytan and Khalasa have changed hands twice. 
 
The strategic border province is criss-crossed with supply routes for various sides of the conflict, including rebels, regime, Kurds, and jihadists such as the Islamic State group. 
 
Aleppo was once Syria&#39;s commercial powerhouse, but it has been a battleground since 2012 when rebels seized the east of the city confining the army to the west. 
 
A hospital in eastern Aleppo supported by Medecins du Monde was heavily damaged in an air strike on Tuesday, the France-based charity said, without reporting casualties. 
 
Three other hospitals in Syria were hit in bombing at the start of June, leaving 10 dead. 
 
As opposing forces close in from either side, residents of both halves of the city fear a potential total siege on the northern metropolis. 
 
The UN says nearly 600,000 Syrians live in besieged areas, most surrounded by government forces. 
 
Earlier this month, it said the government had granted preliminary aid access to 15 of 18 besieged areas, after one was taken off the UN&#39;s list. 
 
Dozens of opposition activist groups accused the UN of &quot;capitulating&quot; to Damascus on aid access. 
 
The scathing report, authored by The Syria Campaign (TSC) advocacy group, was based on testimonies from current and former UN staff and other aid workers. 
 
It accused the UN of &quot;choosing to prioritise cooperation with the Syrian government at all costs,&quot; allowing the regime to unduly influence UN aid strategy. 
 
The UN humanitarian coordinator for Syria, Yacoub El Hillo, said however that while aid access was not ideal, the UN continues to &quot;assist Syrians based on need&quot;. 
 
TSC spokeswoman Bissan Fakih countered: &quot;A UN with the backbone to stand for its principles would help get aid to hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians under siege, many of them only a few minutes&#39; drive from where the UN is based in Damascus.&quot; 
&nbsp; 
(AFP) 
&nbsp;

The city had been wracked by violence with at least 70 pro-regime fighters, backed by the Russians, killed on Tuesday

Russia announced a last minute 48-hour ceasefire for Syria's war-torn Aleppo late Wednesday, just hours after Washington warned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his ally Moscow that they must respect the nationwide truce agreed in February. The vital northern province of Aleppo has been ravaged on multiple fronts in a devastating war that has killed more than 280,000 people. Dozens of fighters were killed in a fresh bout of fighting between the regime, rebels, and jihadists south of Aleppo city on Wednesday, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Backed by Russian and government air strikes, pro-regime fighters are locked in battle with rebel groups and al-Qaeda affiliate al-Nusra Front for a string of villages lying in hilly terrain between strategic routes. "On Russia's initiative, a 'regime of silence' has been introduced in Aleppo for 48 hours from 00:01 16 June (2101 GMT Wednesday) with the goal of lowering the level of armed violence and stabilising the situation," the Russian defence ministry said. The statement did not specify who Russia has discussed the two-day ceasefire with. It accused al-Nusra of attacking various Aleppo neighbourhoods with multiple rocket launchers, as well as mounting a tank attack southwest of the city. The five-year conflict has drawn in world powers who back opposing sides -- including the United States which broadly supports the opposition and Russia on the side of Assad. "Russia needs to understand that our patience is not infinite, in fact it is very limited with whether or not Assad is going to be held accountable," said the US secretary of state John Kerry on Wednesday. "We also are prepared to hold accountable members of the opposition," he said after a meeting in Norway with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif. UN-hosted peace talks aimed at ending the conflict have been stalled since April, and a fragile ceasefire deal between the government and non-jihadist rebels has all but collapsed. "It is very clear that the cessation of hostilities is frayed and at risk and that it is critical for a genuine cessation to be put in place," said Kerry. Efforts were underway, he said, to reach a new agreement "in the next week or two" to reinstate the ceasefire across Syria, leading to more humanitarian aid deliveries and a resumption of the peace process. Fresh Aleppo clashes Since fighting erupted in Aleppo province on Tuesday, at least 70 fighters in total have been killed and the villages of Zaytan and Khalasa have changed hands twice. The strategic border province is criss-crossed with supply routes for various sides of the conflict, including rebels, regime, Kurds, and jihadists such as the Islamic State group. Aleppo was once Syria's commercial powerhouse, but it has been a battleground since 2012 when rebels seized the east of the city confining the army to the west. A hospital in eastern Aleppo supported by Medecins du Monde was heavily damaged in an air strike on Tuesday, the France-based charity said, without reporting casualties. Three other hospitals in Syria were hit in bombing at the start of June, leaving 10 dead. As opposing forces close in from either side, residents of both halves of the city fear a potential total siege on the northern metropolis. The UN says nearly 600,000 Syrians live in besieged areas, most surrounded by government forces. Earlier this month, it said the government had granted preliminary aid access to 15 of 18 besieged areas, after one was taken off the UN's list. Dozens of opposition activist groups accused the UN of "capitulating" to Damascus on aid access. The scathing report, authored by The Syria Campaign (TSC) advocacy group, was based on testimonies from current and former UN staff and other aid workers. It accused the UN of "choosing to prioritise cooperation with the Syrian government at all costs," allowing the regime to unduly influence UN aid strategy. The UN humanitarian coordinator for Syria, Yacoub El Hillo, said however that while aid access was not ideal, the UN continues to "assist Syrians based on need". TSC spokeswoman Bissan Fakih countered: "A UN with the backbone to stand for its principles would help get aid to hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians under siege, many of them only a few minutes' drive from where the UN is based in Damascus." (AFP)

Russia announces 48-hour ceasefire in Aleppo

The Iraqi army began an operation today to storm Falluja, the Islamic State group&#39;s stronghold near Baghdad, a military officer told a Reuters TV crew near the front line.

A military unit is trying to advance in the city, he said as explosions and gunfire could be heard in Falluja&#39;s southern Naimiya district.

The Iraqi army, supported by Iranian-backed Shi&#39;ite militia, began the operation to recapture Falluja on May 23, first by tightening its siege around the city, 50 km (30 miles) west of Baghdad, and has now begun a direct assault.

In January 2014, Falluja became the first Iraqi city to fall under the control of the militants, six months before they declared a caliphate over territory seized in Iraq and Syria.

Iraqi army has launched a military assault on the city of Falluja--the first Iraqi city to be captured by the Islamic State in January 2014--to recapture it.

The Iraqi army began an operation today to storm Falluja, the Islamic State group's stronghold near Baghdad, a military officer told a Reuters TV crew near the front line. A military unit is trying to advance in the city, he said as explosions and gunfire could be heard in Falluja's southern Naimiya district. The Iraqi army, supported by Iranian-backed Shi'ite militia, began the operation to recapture Falluja on May 23, first by tightening its siege around the city, 50 km (30 miles) west of Baghdad, and has now begun a direct assault. In January 2014, Falluja became the first Iraqi city to fall under the control of the militants, six months before they declared a caliphate over territory seized in Iraq and Syria.

Iraqi army starts operation to recapture IS-held city of Falluja

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