"The US government continues to be deeply concerned about the situation in Aleppo and the violence there is only increasing. The risk facing innocent civilians has been grave for some time. It continues to worsen," Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters.
Despite America's best diplomatic efforts to reduce the violence and increase the flow of humanitarian assistance, the Bashar al-Assad government, backed by the Russians, continues to try to bomb innocent civilians into submission, he alleged.
Responding to a question, Earnest conceded that the US is still looking for a cease fire with Russia. "The goal was to try to end the bombing. The few innocent civilians that remain, try to get them out of harm's way, and try to allow the flow of humanitarian assistance to these communities that have been shut off from the outside world for a long time," he said.
"So those were the goals all along. In the months and years that we've been negotiating to try to find a diplomatic solution, we've been rebuffed by the Syrians because, with the backing of the Russians and the Iranians, they've continued to wage this war with virtual impunity," he rued.
"We are still interested in diplomacy. We still are open to and interested in trying to find a diplomatic resolution. But optimism is not high," he acknowledged.
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