As Syrian Forces Reclaim Aleppo, US Secretary Of State John Kerry Says They're Carrying Out Massacre
Thousands of residents have been evacuated from Aleppo after a ceasefire deal.
US Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking in Washington, accused Syria¡¯s government of carrying out ¡°nothing short of a massacre¡± in Aleppo, where thousands were evacuated on Thursday under a ceasefire deal from the last rebel enclave in a city besieged by fighting for years.
Reuters
He defended America¡¯s diplomatic efforts to end the war, which have all proven to be futile. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, with backing from Russia, Iran and Shi¡¯ite militias, has gained the upper hand in the latest turn of the nearly six-year-old conflict.
Barring those directly involved in the Syrian civil war everyone else, including America, was ultimately forced to watch from the sidelines as the Syrian government and its allies mounted an assault to pin down the rebels in a steadily shrinking pocket of territory in eastern Aleppo, culminating in this week¡¯s ceasefire deal.
Reuters
¡°There is absolutely no justification whatsoever for the indiscriminate and savage brutality against civilians shown by the regime and by its Russian and Iranian allies over the past few weeks, or indeed for the past five years,¡± Kerry said at a news briefing in Washington.
¡°We are seeing the unleashing of a sectarian passion.¡±
He added, ¡°The Assad regime is actually carrying out nothing short of a massacre.¡±
Reuters
There were reports that a convoy of injured people had been fired on by Syrian government forces or their allies, he said. Activists and residents inside the remaining rebel enclave said this week that pro-government militias had summarily executed dozens of civilians.
Russia, however, has consistently denied that its strikes had killed civilians in large numbers, and said this week that rebels were using civilians has human shields. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia would treat rebels who stay in east Aleppo as ¡°terrorists.¡±
Reuters
In recent days, Kerry has publicly expressed frustration with the complete failure of diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting. Assad has promised that he will not stop fighting till he has regained full control of the country. His takeover of Aleppo will mark a massive victory for him, his government and allies.
