US Condemns Civilian Casualties in Fighting Between Islamists, Syrian Gov't

Fighting in Syria between government forces, the al-Qaeda affiliated al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State that have resulted in civilian casualties over the past week must stop and a political solution must be reached, US State Department spokesperson Marie Harf said.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Airstrikes conducted by the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regime reportedly killed more than 100 civilians in the city of Idlib this week, and displaced more than 30,000 people, while in Hama, the Islamic State killed 40 people, US State Department spokesperson Marie Harf said.

“These tragic events illustrate the terrible toll the war has taken on Syrian civilians and reaffirm the need for a political solution to end the conflict and alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people,” Harf said on Friday. “The United States reiterates that all forces must cease unlawful attacks on civilians and comply with international law.”

The State Department also condemned Islamic State and al-Nusra attacks on the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp near Damascus, which has been the scene of intense fighting over the past several days.

Earlier this week the al-Nusra Front, Ahrah al-Sham and other rebel groups took over the city Idlib, the provincial capital of northern Idlib province, prompting the Syrian regime to hit targets in the city. Al-Nusra reportedly also made gains near the border with Jordan.

Meanwhile, the Islamic State made some of its first forays near Damascus as fighting for control of Yarmouk exchanged hands several times earlier this week.

Syria has been in a state of civil war since March 2011, with government forces fighting on multiple fronts, against the so-called moderate opposition and numerous Islamist insurgent groups, including the Nusra Front and the Islamic State.

Up to 220,000 people have been killed in the fighting in Syria, according to United Nations’ reports.