Kerry Hopes to Present Tangible Cooperation Plan with Russia in August

U.S. secretary of state John Kerry met with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in Laos to discuss the U.S. proposal for a military partnership in Syria, the Associated Press reported.

After Tuesday’s meeting, Kerry said that progress has been made, despite doubts from within the U.S. administration, the Pentagon and abroad.

“My hope would be that somewhere in early August – the first week or so, somewhere in there – we would be in a position to be able to stand up in front of you and tell you what we’re able to do with the hopes that it can make a difference to the lives of people in Syria and to the course of the war,” Kerry said.

The proposal in question would see the U.S. and Russia share intelligence to target Jabhat al-Nusra, the al-Qaida affiliate in Syria, and would put a stop to the Syrian government’s targeting of U.S.-backed rebel forces.

On Monday, U.S. defense secretary Ash Carter said Russia’s focus on supporting the Syrian government was complicating U.S. efforts for cooperation and lengthening the conflict.

“We had hoped that they would promote a political solution and transition to put an end to the civil war, which is the beginning of all this violence in Syria, and then combat extremists rather than moderate opposition, which has to be part of that transition,” Carter said at a Pentagon news conference. “So they’re a long way from doing that.”

Intense Airstrikes Kill 42 in Al-Atareb

Syrian government and Russian airstrikes on Monday killed at least 42 civilians in the town of al-Atareb, Al-Jazeera reported.

Around 27 air raids were reportedly carried out on al-Atareb, which is located northwest of Aleppo city. Residents of al-Atareb told Al-Jazeera this was the biggest attack yet on the city in the history of the war.

Airstrikes also hit a medical facility in al-Atareb over the weekend. Four other medical facilities in Aleppo city were also hit, and all five are now closed.

Opposition-held parts of Aleppo city are effectively under siege after government forces seized the only supply route, Castello Road, leaving 300,000 residents under threat of food, fuel and medical shortages.

On Monday, United Nations humanitarian chief Stephen O’Brien called for immediate unhindered humanitarian access to Syrians in besieged or “hard to reach” areas, currently estimated to be around 5.5 million people.

Israel Hits Target in Syria in Retaliation for Errant Fire

Israel’s military said on Monday that its aircraft hit a target in Syria after errant fire from the neighboring conflict hit Israeli territory, Reuters reported.

A spokeswoman for the Israeli army confirmed that the air force had “successfully targeted the source of the fire in Syria.” The Syrian fire had landed in an open area near the Israeli border, causing no injuries.

The Syrian army said the Israeli retaliation hit a residential building in Baath City, a town held by pro-government forces including fighters from Lebanese Hezbollah. An array of opposition and extremist fighters including Western-backed rebels, Jabhat al-Nusra and groups affiliated with the so-called Islamic State are also present in the area.

The Syrian army released a statement on SANA, the state news agency, saying the Israeli strikes had caused “material damage,” and had the goal of “raising the morale of terrorist groups it (Israel) supported.”

Recommended Reads:

• Al-Monitor: Will Israel Create Safe Zone in Southern Syria?
• IRIN News: How Syrians Are Being Killed
• Middle East Eye: U.S. Loosening Engagement Rules for Civilian Areas in Syria: Monitor
• Politico: DNC Hack Rattles U.S. Effort to Rein in Russia on Syria
• BBC News: Can Syria’s Kurds Realize Territorial Ambitions?