Syrian govt forces seize Aleppo camp from rebels-monitor, rebel, state TV

The group says that at least 18 people were killed in two neighborhoods. Before the war, the city held almost 3 million people and was Syria’s economic hub.

“The first thing that we have to do is find a way to restore credibility to the process, if that can be done”, he said, of attempts to restore the ceasefire.

Discussions have focussed on a US proposal to ground Syrian and Russian planes over designated areas, which Kerry said would restore “credibility” to the ceasefire plan.

When the U.S. -Russia brokered truce went into effect in Syria on September 12, calm prevailed Aleppo and other Syrian cities, but the violence renewed after the truce expired this Monday.

In between the raids, White Helmet volunteers frantically searched for those trapped in the rubble of demolished buildings, often with their bare hands. “Most of the victims are under the rubble because more than half the civil defence has been forced out of service”, he said.

Bustan al-Qasr is along the frontline that divides the government-held west from the rebel-held east of the city.

The Al Jazeera news agency tweeted that its bureau in the city had been partly destroyed.

The Syrian army says it is targeting rebel positions in the city, and denies hitting civilians.

The unnamed source told state media on Friday that the attack will be a “comprehensive one” involving preparatory air strikes and boots on the ground that could go on “for some time”.

In a verbal clash with his Russian counterpart at the UN Security Council during which the two abandoned diplomatic niceties, John Kerry called for both Russia and Syria to ground their military aircraft in northern Syria.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he is “appalled” by the current spike in violence around the contested Syrian city of Aleppo.

The roar of a retreating warplane, believed to be Russian, could be heard as one devastating strike hit, with footage showing a huge explosion resonate across the city before sending a huge plume of dust and smoke hundreds of feet into the air.

With prospects plummeting to revive an all but dead Syria ceasefire, the United States and Russian Federation have grudgingly agreed to another round of talks to keep hopes alive.

Residents told the BBC earlier this week that barrel bombs had struck rebel-held districts, causing many fires. Activists reported dozens of airstrikes on Friday alone.

US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov are due to meet again in NY on Friday to try and stake a path to peace in Syria’s multisided conflict. United Nations peace envoy Staffan de Mistura has warned of escalating violence.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was left pleading this week with Russian Federation to halt air strikes, but was ignored. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault described Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s response to that proposal as “not satisfying”.

Mr Kerry met Mr Lavrov again on Friday and said there had been “a little bit of progress” on resolving differences.

Moscow is a key ally of Assad’s government, while Washington supports the opposition.

Rooting out terrorism groups in Syria, he said, “is absolutely important in order to have truces and reconciliation”.

“Now it is essential to prevent a disruption of these agreements”, Lavrov said.

On Monday, a United Nations aid convoy was attacked, in what the USA says was a Russian air strike, though Moscow rejects the charges.

He focused in particular on reports of the use of so-called “bunker-busting bombs” that are created to target underground structures. “When you use armament. you kill terrorists in order to defend civilians”.