DAMASCUS (Dispatches) – Syrian aircraft have started launching "concentrated airstrikes” against terrorist-held areas inside and around the northwestern city of Aleppo.
A source within the Syrian military said the raids are underway against terrorist bases in the town of Khan Touman to the south of the city and elsewhere in the area, AFP reported.
The strikes led to "the destruction of armored vehicles and (other) vehicles, some of which were equipped with machine guns.”
A week-long ceasefire in the war-weary Arab country, which had been brokered by Russia and the United States ended last Monday. It ushered in several days of relative calm, including in Aleppo, which has been divided between government forces and terrorists.
In another development the U.S.-led coalition warplanes launched airstrikes on two main bridges on the Euphrates River in Deir Ezzur province, days after they killed at least 90 Syrian soldiers in an air assault in the same region in southeastern Syria.
Reports from the city said Wednesday that the U.S. air raids destroyed al-Asharah Bridge that links the river’s two banks in the eastern part of the province in southeastern Syria, only few hours after demolishing al-Mayadin Bridge in the same region near the border with Iraq.
Discussions over finding a political solution to the crisis have so far failed. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has voiced skepticism over the implementation of a no-fly zone over Syria.
"Given the way the situation is at the moment, I'm skeptical that we can enforce a no-fly zone right now," she said following a meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.
She noted that given the current situation only negotiations can ensure progress towards halting the conflict in the country.
"Syrian authorities and Russia must take a step toward strengthening, renewing the ceasefire and humanitarian support,” she added.
Her remarks directly contradicted those of German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who recently called for the implementation of a seven-day no-fly zone after a UN aid convoy was hit in Aleppo.
On Thursday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said that his country was firmly against a no-fly zone in Syria, noting that a solution must be found that would benefit all parties engaged in the conflict with the exclusion of terrorist groups.
Russia also criticized the United States for not doing enough to rein in terrorists in Syria and protect the truce deal, saying continued violations of the ceasefire by terrorists made it "senseless” for Damascus to stick to the agreement.