In Syria, the partial ceasefire between Bashar al-Assad’s regime and opposition groups has collapsed, after airstrikes killed about 40 people in a crowded market in the rebel-held town of Maarat al-Noaman in Idlib province. The market had been the site of protests against the Assad regime in recent weeks. The strikes are the latest in a series of ceasefire violations by the Assad regime. U.S. State Department spokesperson John Kirby confirmed Tuesday’s strikes were likely carried out by Assad’s forces and that strikes compromise the ongoing Geneva peace talks.
John Kirby: “It is our understanding at this time that it was most likely regime forces, but information is still coming in. Obviously, when there still continues to be violations of the cessation and there continues to still be people that are being barrel-bombed and gassed and denied basic food, water and medicine, that makes it very difficult for the opposition to participate fully in these talks.”
Earlier this week, the main opposition group pulled out of the Geneva peace talks, citing ceasefire violations by Assad’s regime and “no real will for a political solution.”