World

Syrian Rebels Go On The Offensive As Ceasefire Collapses

fpolat89/Shutterstock

Daily Caller News Foundation logo
Russ Read Pentagon/Foreign Policy Reporter
Font Size:

Syrian rebel groups went on the offensive against President Bashar al-Assad’s forces in Aleppo Tuesday in response to various air strikes on civilian and rebel-held areas.

It has been reported that as many as 250 people have been killed in strikes in the last ten days, with most of the deaths occurring in the rebel-held portion of Aleppo. As many as 50 of those killed were hit by an air strike targeting a hospital run jointly by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the Red Cross. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry believes the strike was most likely carried out by Syrian government forces. The Syrian government has claimed that rebel shelling in response to the attacks have killed over a dozen people.

“Shells and mortar rounds are raining down on every neighborhood [of] Aleppo,” said Mohammad Hazouri, an Aleppo health official, to France 24.

The recent exchange between government and rebel forces has been the figurative final nail in the coffin for February’s so-called “cessation of hostilities” brokered in the international community. Despite being hailed as a success by some, various strikes from both sides have been ongoing for months since the pseudo-ceasefire was announced.

Syrian military officials have claimed that various terrorist groups, such as Nusra Front, Ahrar al-Sham and the Army of Islam, are responsible for Tuesday’s deadly shelling.

Despite the failure of the initial ceasefire, European diplomats are attempting to revive peace talks. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier will host the talks in Berlin Wednesday, which will include France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, Syrian opposition leader Riad Hijab and the United Nations’ Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura.

The main topic of Wednesday’s discussion will center on “how the conditions for a continuation of the peace talks in Geneva can be met, as well as how a reduction of violence and an improvement in the humanitarian situation in Syria can be achieved,” according to a statement released Tuesday by the German foreign ministry.

Follow Russ Read on Twitter

Send tips to russ@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.