Russia Warns of Rebel Threat to Syria Truce, Urges U.S. Pressure
- Russian military cites 23 cease-fire violations by opposition
- Lavrov concerned about lack of resolve to fight al-Qaeda wing
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Russia warned that rebel violations of a day-old cease-fire in Syria were putting at risk joint efforts with the U.S. to ease the 5 1/2-year civil war, and urged the Obama administration to pressure opponents of President Bashar al-Assad into compliance.
Syrian troops, allied militias and civilian areas came under shelling 23 times since the truce took effect on Monday, mostly from areas where U.S.-backed rebels are based, Russian Lt. General Vladimir Savchenko said, according to the state-run Tass news service. Syrian government forces didn’t return fire and have ceased hostilities, except in areas where Islamic State and the al-Qaeda wing in Syria operate, Russian military officials said.