21 September 2016

News Story: US warns Syria aid convoy strike could end Russia deal

A deadly air strike on a UN aid convoy by Syrian or Russian planes calls into question Moscow's will to try to salvage a ceasefire, the United States said Monday.

The attack could only have been carried out by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime or his Russian allies and Moscow must take responsibility either way, US officials said.

"The United States is outraged by reports that a humanitarian aid convoy was bombed near Aleppo today," State Department spokesman John Kirby said.

Last week, the United States was forced to apologize after it weakened the ceasefire by bombing Syrian troops, but Washington said it had been accidental.

US officials said there could be no similar excuse from Russia for the targeting of non-combatant aid workers.