Kerry Urges Grounding Of Syria Planes
The US Secretary of State has called for all planes to be grounded in key areas of Syria to save the truce there, following an attack on an aid convoy.
In a blistering speech at the United Nations, John Kerry said the future of Syria was “hanging by a thread”.
He said Monday’s attack, which killed 20 civilians, had raised profound doubt over whether Russia and the Syrian government would live up to terms of the ceasefire deal.
Moscow has denied being involved.
The Russian defence ministry now says a US drone was in the area where the aid convoy was struck.
Gen Igor Konashenkov said a Predator strike drone appeared above the convoy several minutes before it caught fire, and left the area 30 minutes later.
Gen Igor Konashenkov said a Predator strike drone appeared above the convoy several minutes before it caught fire, and left the area 30 minutes later.
“We are not jumping to unfounded conclusions. Only its owners know why the drone was in the area at the right time and what kind of tasks it was pursuing there,” the general said.
He did not directly accuse the US of firing on the aid convoy from a drone but pointedly said that such a drone could carry out high-precision strikes against targets on the ground.
His comments follow Kerry’s declaration that Russia should stand up and take responsibility for air strikes, criticising Russia’s defence ministry for changing its story.
He said he felt like Russia was in “a parallel universe” after listening to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov address the council.
He did not directly accuse the US of firing on the aid convoy from a drone but pointedly said that such a drone could carry out high-precision strikes against targets on the ground.
His comments follow Kerry’s declaration that Russia should stand up and take responsibility for air strikes, criticising Russia’s defence ministry for changing its story.
He said he felt like Russia was in “a parallel universe” after listening to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov address the council.
Monday’s attack prompted the UN to suspend all aid convoys in Syria.
Kerry said flights should stop “in order to de-escalate the situation and give a chance for humanitarian assistance to flow unimpeded”.
Kerry said flights should stop “in order to de-escalate the situation and give a chance for humanitarian assistance to flow unimpeded”.
The attack had “dealt a heavy blow to our efforts to bring peace to Syria,” he said.
A further attack on Tuesday night killed five medical workers for an international aid agency.
A partial truce brokered by the US and Russia lasted just a week.
Heavy air raids have continued in Syria, especially in and around Aleppo.
Syria’s five-year civil war has left more than 250,000 people dead and displaced more than 11 million others, reports the BBC.
A further attack on Tuesday night killed five medical workers for an international aid agency.
A partial truce brokered by the US and Russia lasted just a week.
Heavy air raids have continued in Syria, especially in and around Aleppo.
Syria’s five-year civil war has left more than 250,000 people dead and displaced more than 11 million others, reports the BBC.
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