US 'deeply troubled' over increasing operations by Syrian regime

WASHINGTON, June 21 (KUNA) -- The US "remains deeply troubled" by reports of increasing Syrian regime operations in southwest Syria, within the boundaries of the de-escalation zone, said a State Department memo said on Thursday.
"Syrian regime military and militia units, according to our reports, have violated the southwest de-escalation zone and initiated airstrikes, artillery, and rocket attacks," it said.
The US has continued to warn Russia and the Assad regime of the "serious repercussions of these violations and demands that Russia restrain pro-regime forces from further actions within the southwest de-escalation zone." Over the weekend Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stressed to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov "the critical nature of mutual adherence to this arrangement and the unacceptable nature of any unilateral activity by the Assad regime or Russia," the statement said.
The US "expects all parties to respect the ceasefire, protect civilian populations, and avoid broadening of the conflict and "remains committed to maintaining the stability of the southwest de-escalation zone and to the ceasefire underpinning it," it added. (end) ak.mb