08-27-2016, 11:52 AM
Hoping hard that these peace talks lead to the end of the Syrian civil war and terrorist infiltration.
^ John Kerry, left, and Russia's Sergei Lavrov have been trying to bring about a ceasefire and restart peace talks.
It is clear some progress was made this week, but the question is whether Russia and the United States will ever be able to reach a lasting deal on crucial and complex issues.
One goal is to strengthen their military co-operation in the fight against so-called Islamic State and forces linked to al-Qaeda. But they, and their Syrian allies, still disagree on which groups are legitimate targets.
They also want the Syrian government and the opposition to accept a truce.
But, on the ground, fighting intensifies with all sides still trying to gain advantage. In the town of Darayya just outside Damascus, rebels were forced to surrender after four years of bombardment and siege.
Mr Kerry reminded journalists of the image, widely shared on social media, of a five-year-old boy sitting dazed in an ambulance after an air strike in Aleppo, saying "that image needs to motivate all of us, to get the job done".
The image of five-year-old Omran Daqneesh covered in grey dust and fresh blood should motivate everyone "to get the job done", says John Kerry.
Mr Kerry said the Syrian government, with the help of its allies including Russia, continued to breach the terms of an existing cessation of hostilities agreement.
"Aleppo continues to be besieged and bombarded by the regime and its allies, including Iran, Russia and Hezbollah, and the regime just today forced the surrender of Darayya after a brutal four years of siege," he said.
The Syrian army encircled Darayya in 2012 and just one aid delivery has reached the town since then.
Opposition fighters are due to be given safe passage to the rebel-held city of Idlib, while civilians are going to government shelters in Damascus.
The withdrawal of rebels just a few miles from Damascus is a boost for President Bashar al-Assad, analysts say.
Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-37202043
^ John Kerry, left, and Russia's Sergei Lavrov have been trying to bring about a ceasefire and restart peace talks.
It is clear some progress was made this week, but the question is whether Russia and the United States will ever be able to reach a lasting deal on crucial and complex issues.
One goal is to strengthen their military co-operation in the fight against so-called Islamic State and forces linked to al-Qaeda. But they, and their Syrian allies, still disagree on which groups are legitimate targets.
They also want the Syrian government and the opposition to accept a truce.
But, on the ground, fighting intensifies with all sides still trying to gain advantage. In the town of Darayya just outside Damascus, rebels were forced to surrender after four years of bombardment and siege.
Mr Kerry reminded journalists of the image, widely shared on social media, of a five-year-old boy sitting dazed in an ambulance after an air strike in Aleppo, saying "that image needs to motivate all of us, to get the job done".
The image of five-year-old Omran Daqneesh covered in grey dust and fresh blood should motivate everyone "to get the job done", says John Kerry.
Mr Kerry said the Syrian government, with the help of its allies including Russia, continued to breach the terms of an existing cessation of hostilities agreement.
"Aleppo continues to be besieged and bombarded by the regime and its allies, including Iran, Russia and Hezbollah, and the regime just today forced the surrender of Darayya after a brutal four years of siege," he said.
The Syrian army encircled Darayya in 2012 and just one aid delivery has reached the town since then.
Opposition fighters are due to be given safe passage to the rebel-held city of Idlib, while civilians are going to government shelters in Damascus.
The withdrawal of rebels just a few miles from Damascus is a boost for President Bashar al-Assad, analysts say.
Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-37202043