The Syrian American Council condemns yesterday's deadly attack on civilians by the Syrian-Russian alliance that left 100 civilians dead and injured in the Atarib suburb of Aleppo. Two days ago, the State Department released a media note claiming that President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin “agreed there is no military solution to the conflict in Syria” during a meeting. Putin clearly only believes in a military solution for Syria and is implementing it on the ground everyday. Yesterday's massacre, which was the worst in the province since the Aleppo City Massacre of 2016, is proof that Putin is not a reliable or constructive partner in Syria. Putin has made clear that his government's aim is to keep Assad in power at the expense of Syria's civilians. Putin continues to protect, embolden, enable and support Assad's mass atrocities and crimes against humanity on the battlefield and at the UN Security Council. As such, the Syrian American Council calls on the Trump Administration to work with members of the Friends of Syria group of countries to protect civilians in Syria, end all sieges, release detainees, increase efforts to support a political transition away from Assad, and refer the Syria file to the ICC. 

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Bassam Rifai

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