Ceasefire monitors discuss Syrian-Russian violations

A US-Russian task force is investigating claims of violations of a three-day-old cessation of hostilities agreement in Syria, the Anadolu Agency reported a top American diplomat saying yesterday.

“During that time I spoke to [Russian Foreign Minister Sergey] Lavrov for several times and we have agreed that now there have been some number of violations reported on both sides and we take them all very seriously,” John Kerry said during a press conference in Washington DC.

He noted that aerial bombardments and shellings “against participants in the cessation of hostilities” had to end.

The task force was coordinating as best as possible to be able to designate and understand where Daesh and Al-Nusra were operating in Syria.

“It’s obvious that the next few days will be critical in determining whether or not we’ll be able to develop some real momentum towards a de-escalation of the conflict,” he said.

“I reiterate our call for all parties to abide by the cessation of hostilities, to cooperate in the delivery of the humanitarian aid and to support the negotiations that aim a Syrian-led political transition in accordance with the 2012 Geneva Communique and UN Security Council resolution 2254.”

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault in Geneva: “We have received indications that attacks, including by air, have been continuing against zones controlled by the moderate opposition.”

Local Syrian sources reported 35 attacks carried out by Syrian and Russian fighters since the agreement entered into force on Friday.