US, Russia Urge Syria's Warring Parties to End Attacks on Civilians

Russia and the United States are calling on warring parties in Syria to stop brutal attacks on civilians, civil infrastructure and health facilities, a joint statement released Monday said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia and the United States confirm their commitment to the Syrian ceasefire and intend to intensify their efforts to ensure its implementation, the two countries said in a joint statement as co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG).

"We demand that parties cease any indiscriminate attacks on civilians, including civilian infrastructure and medical facilities," the statement reads.

Moscow, which co-chairs the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) together with Washington, has pledged to work with the Syrian government "to minimize aviation operations over areas that are predominantly inhabited by civilians or parties to the cessation." 

"As a result, we have decided to reconfirm our commitment to the CoH [cessation of hostilities] in Syria and to intensify efforts to ensure its nation-wide implementation. We also intend to enhance efforts to promote humanitarian assistance to all people in need in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254," the statement, published on the Russian Foreign Ministry website Monday, read. 

According to the statement, Russia and the United States will also take measures to distinguish territories controlled by Daesh and Nusra Front terrorist groups, outlawed in both countries, and will consider actions against their threat in Syria: 

"In order to maintain the effectiveness of the CoH [cessation of hostilities], the co-chairs are committed to undertaking efforts to develop a shared understanding of the threat posed, and territory controlled, by ISIL [IS] and the Nusra Front, and to consider ways to deal decisively against the threat posed by ISIL and Nusra Front to Syria and international security," the statement read.