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Russia Rejects U.S. Demands for Resumption of Syria Cease-Fire Russia Rejects U.S. Demands for Resumption of Syria Cease-Fire
(about 1 hour later)
BEIRUT, Lebanon — The Russian government vowed on Thursday to press ahead with its operations in Syria, dismissing Secretary of State John Kerry’s threat to cut off talks if the bombardment of Aleppo continued.BEIRUT, Lebanon — The Russian government vowed on Thursday to press ahead with its operations in Syria, dismissing Secretary of State John Kerry’s threat to cut off talks if the bombardment of Aleppo continued.
“We have more than once suggested 48-hour pauses in order to ensure humanitarian access,” Sergei A. Ryabkov, the deputy foreign minister of Russia, told reporters in Moscow on Thursday. “But our American colleagues are totally fixated on demands of a seven-day pause for reasons that only they know.”“We have more than once suggested 48-hour pauses in order to ensure humanitarian access,” Sergei A. Ryabkov, the deputy foreign minister of Russia, told reporters in Moscow on Thursday. “But our American colleagues are totally fixated on demands of a seven-day pause for reasons that only they know.”
Mr. Kerry told his Russian counterpart, Sergey V. Lavrov, on Wednesday that the United States would scrap plans for joint military action against jihadist targets unless the Russian and Syrian militaries stopped bombing the rebel-held districts of the divided city of Aleppo, which was once Syria’s largest city and its commercial center.Mr. Kerry told his Russian counterpart, Sergey V. Lavrov, on Wednesday that the United States would scrap plans for joint military action against jihadist targets unless the Russian and Syrian militaries stopped bombing the rebel-held districts of the divided city of Aleppo, which was once Syria’s largest city and its commercial center.
Mr. Kerry wants to revive a Sept. 9 cease-fire deal that fell apart after an airstrike that the United States said was aimed at jihadists but that instead killed dozens of Syrian soldiers; a Russian attack on a humanitarian aid convoy; and the relentless bombardment of rebel territory in the city. Most of the rebels in Aleppo battling the government of President Bashar al-Assad are not connected to jihadist groups like the Islamic State and Al Qaeda.Mr. Kerry wants to revive a Sept. 9 cease-fire deal that fell apart after an airstrike that the United States said was aimed at jihadists but that instead killed dozens of Syrian soldiers; a Russian attack on a humanitarian aid convoy; and the relentless bombardment of rebel territory in the city. Most of the rebels in Aleppo battling the government of President Bashar al-Assad are not connected to jihadist groups like the Islamic State and Al Qaeda.
Analysts say that Russia and Syria may be targeting civilians in Aleppo to erode the rebels’ legitimacy by driving them into the hands of extremists. That would give Russia more leverage in diplomatic talks, as well as persuade civilians to stop supporting the rebels.Analysts say that Russia and Syria may be targeting civilians in Aleppo to erode the rebels’ legitimacy by driving them into the hands of extremists. That would give Russia more leverage in diplomatic talks, as well as persuade civilians to stop supporting the rebels.
Mr. Ryabkov suggested a 48-hour “pause” in fighting, an offer the Americans are likely to reject. They have insisted that seven days is the minimum necessary for a meaningful cease-fire.Mr. Ryabkov suggested a 48-hour “pause” in fighting, an offer the Americans are likely to reject. They have insisted that seven days is the minimum necessary for a meaningful cease-fire.
“A seven-day pause is a time period that is quite sufficient for terrorist groups to take necessary steps in order to stock up on supplies, allow terrorists to rest and regroup forces,” Mr. Ryabkov said. “It is as though the duration was specially chosen to tackle such tasks, and, consequently, a seven-day period is unacceptable for us, and the proposals of 48-hour pauses remain on the table.”“A seven-day pause is a time period that is quite sufficient for terrorist groups to take necessary steps in order to stock up on supplies, allow terrorists to rest and regroup forces,” Mr. Ryabkov said. “It is as though the duration was specially chosen to tackle such tasks, and, consequently, a seven-day period is unacceptable for us, and the proposals of 48-hour pauses remain on the table.”
The Syrian opposition and its international backers counter that the pro-government forces are the ones that have used cease-fires to regroup.The Syrian opposition and its international backers counter that the pro-government forces are the ones that have used cease-fires to regroup.
In a separate conference call with reporters, the Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitry S. Peskov, said that the Russian Air Force’s operations to support government troops would continue.In a separate conference call with reporters, the Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitry S. Peskov, said that the Russian Air Force’s operations to support government troops would continue.
Mr. Peskov chided a State Department spokesman, John Kirby, who said on Wednesday that Russia had an interest in stopping extremist groups like the Islamic State because they could attack “Russian interests, perhaps even Russian cities.” Mr. Peskov called the statement a “thinly disguised invitation to use terrorism as a weapon against Russia,” and he denounced what he called “the current American administration’s de facto support for terrorism.”Mr. Peskov chided a State Department spokesman, John Kirby, who said on Wednesday that Russia had an interest in stopping extremist groups like the Islamic State because they could attack “Russian interests, perhaps even Russian cities.” Mr. Peskov called the statement a “thinly disguised invitation to use terrorism as a weapon against Russia,” and he denounced what he called “the current American administration’s de facto support for terrorism.”
As the diplomatic skirmishing continued, so did the unremitting suffering in Aleppo.As the diplomatic skirmishing continued, so did the unremitting suffering in Aleppo.
Two hospitals in the rebel-held eastern part of the divided city were hit by Syrian government or Russian airstrikes on Wednesday — the latest in hundreds of attacks on medical facilities during the war. Doctors, nurses and activists described the events of the day in text messages with photographs of the bombing scenes.Two hospitals in the rebel-held eastern part of the divided city were hit by Syrian government or Russian airstrikes on Wednesday — the latest in hundreds of attacks on medical facilities during the war. Doctors, nurses and activists described the events of the day in text messages with photographs of the bombing scenes.
Around 4 a.m., several artillery shells hit a hospital known as M2. One hit an ambulance entrance, killing two patients and wounding three staff members. Other patients were evacuated on foot. About 10 minutes later, another hospital, known as M10, was hit by what witnesses described as an airstrike. Around 4 a.m., artillery shells hit a hospital known as M2. One hit an ambulance entrance, killing two patients and wounding three staff members. Other patients were evacuated on foot. About 10 minutes later, another hospital, known as M10, was hit by what witnesses described as an airstrike.
Both hospitals were forced to stop treating patients — their generators were knocked out — but members of staff remained on the premises to bandage the wounded and redirect them to other hospitals. Both hospitals were forced to stop treating patients — their generators were knocked out — but members of staff remained to bandage the wounded and redirect them to other hospitals.
At the M2 hospital, about 90 patients and staff members huddled inside the building for hours as bombardment continued outside. One nurse, Baraa, asked residents not to take photographs if they ended up being dragged from the rubble. At the M2 hospital, about 90 patients and staff members huddled inside for hours. One nurse, Baraa, asked residents not to take photographs if they ended up being dragged from the rubble.
“We don’t want to lose our last possession, our dignity,” he said in a text message, offering only his given name because he was afraid.“We don’t want to lose our last possession, our dignity,” he said in a text message, offering only his given name because he was afraid.
Aref al-Aref, another medical assistant there, said in a phone interview while he was trapped that after five years in war, “This is the first time I’m scared.”Aref al-Aref, another medical assistant there, said in a phone interview while he was trapped that after five years in war, “This is the first time I’m scared.”
Muhammad al-Ahmad, a radiology nurse at the other hospital, said he had tried to take a short nap but was awakened by the explosions and rushed to evacuate 15 patients to other hospitals when the ventilators and other equipment stopped working. One patient, a child, died. Muhammad al-Ahmad, a radiology nurse at M10, said he was awakened from a short nap by explosions and rushed to evacuate 15 patients when the ventilators and other equipment stopped working. One patient, a child, died.
“There was dust everywhere,” he said. “I couldn’t breathe, my ears were buzzing. It was complete darkness around.”“There was dust everywhere,” he said. “I couldn’t breathe, my ears were buzzing. It was complete darkness around.”
Early Thursday morning, two bakeries were hit by aerial attacks, after a strike that damaged another bakery on Wednesday. The two bakeries hit on Thursday were not in the city of Aleppo but in the nearby countryside: one was to the north of the city and the other to the west, close to where an aid convoy was hit last week. Early Thursday morning, two bakeries were hit by aerial attacks, after a strike that damaged another bakery on Wednesday. The two bakeries hit were not in Aleppo but in the nearby countryside: one was to the north of the city and the other to the west, close to where the aid convoy was hit.
On Wednesday, a bakery in Aleppo was hit by a projectile that killed six people who had been waiting for bread, already scarce. Photographs from the scene showed bodies lying in the street, hard to distinguish from the rubble around them as all was covered in the same gray dust. On Wednesday, a bakery in Aleppo was hit by a projectile that killed six people who had been waiting for bread, already scarce. Photographs showed bodies in the street, covered in gray dust like the rubble around them.
“My house was destroyed today,” said Zaher al-Zaher, an activist and citizen journalist in the city. At 7 a.m. on Wednesday, he said, his mother woke him from a nap, warning that an incendiary bomb, which can burn concrete, had fallen on the balcony and set the house on fire.“My house was destroyed today,” said Zaher al-Zaher, an activist and citizen journalist in the city. At 7 a.m. on Wednesday, he said, his mother woke him from a nap, warning that an incendiary bomb, which can burn concrete, had fallen on the balcony and set the house on fire.
“We all left running,” he recounted. “It’s the first time I’ve seen walls on fire.”“We all left running,” he recounted. “It’s the first time I’ve seen walls on fire.”
The Syrian government said its forces had destroyed a meeting place in Aleppo used by the Nusra Front, an offshoot of Al Qaeda in Syria that now calls itself the Levant Victory Front. On Thursday, activists reported that Zilal Ibrahim al-Salhani, a 23-year-old university student, had been sentenced to death by a military court. The human rights group Amnesty International had reported her detention in 2012 and expressed fear that she might be subjected to torture and other mistreatment.