Kerry Says Ending Fighting in Syria Depends on Russia’s Actions

Syrian government forces and their allies are continuing their offensive against rebel-held parts of eastern Aleppo.

A USA official stressed that the Geneva talks will be at a “technical” level, “not foreign minister level”, to discuss modalities of a possible ceasefire, aid supplies and the evacuation of civilians and rebel fighters. Kallaseh is near the Old City.

The Red Cross and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent were able to evacuate about 150 civilians from a hospital near the front line, the groups said in a statement.

By Friday morning, more than 8,000 people – including 3,000 children – had left, Russia’s military said. Some were injured civilians who had sought refuge there. The rebels have called for an immediate five-day ceasefire and the evacuation of civilians and wounded, but have so far given no indication they are ready to withdraw.

In Paris, the Western countries stressed that although the Assad regime was in the strongest position it had been in since the war began in 2011, taking control of Aleppo would still leave large parts of the country beyond its control.

“As a result of a successful advance, 52 districts of eastern Aleppo have been freed”.

Lavrov said there was still a good chance of reaching a deal, as long as Washington did not change its mind about participating in a meeting of technical experts in Geneva on Saturday.

Activists are struggling to document casualties because of street clashes and intense bombings.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, reported at least a dozen air strikes on rebel-held neighbourhoods on Friday afternoon. A proposal for a cease-fire put forward by the rebels Wednesday, calling for a five-day humanitarian pause, has been ignored.

She said Kerry and Lavrov continued talks on Thursday with the goal of securing a cease-fire and the “safe departure of those who wish to leave the city”.

Colville cited a report that on December 4 in the al-Hellok neighbourhood, “two members of the national defence forces killed four of their own male relatives in front of their families reportedly because they were perceived as having been sympathetic to the opposition”.

He said this would be pointless “because the bandits are surrounded and they are unlikely to get reinforcements”, while the arms instead “may end up in the hands of the terrorists of the Islamic State or al-Nusra”.

Russian Federation and Syria oppose lengthy pauses in the Aleppo battle, arguing that Takfiri militants may take advantage of the situation and rebuild their strength.

Meanwhile, talks between Russian Federation and the United States on a ceasefire in Aleppo have so far failed to produce a tangible result.

US and Russian military experts and diplomats are meeting in Geneva on Saturday to work out details of the rebels’ exit from eastern Aleppo.

The official said the 40,000 figure includes everyone who has left their home because of the fighting – those who have left rebel-held areas to government control, those who have found their areas now taken by the government, and also those who have moved between areas still held by the rebels.