Russian and Syrian airstrikes devastate Aleppo killing 81, injuring over 80; Russia, US call for ceasefire talks.

Russian and Syrian airstrikes devastated eastern Aleppo today, killing at least 81 civilians and injuring over 80. Reportedly, the rebel-held area was pounded by more than 50 Russian and Syrian missile attacks throughout the day, hitting a busy marketplace, and razing it to the ground. The attacks came as rescuers were still sifting through the rubble from yesterday’s attacks that killed at least 41 people, according to the Syrian Civil defense and Aleppo Media Centre.

Aleppo’s mayor Brita Haj Hassan told Sky News, “There is a holocaust going on in Aleppo right now. Aleppo is burning and the international community is just watching and doing nothing.”

The attacks came after advances were made over the weekend by the Syrian Army, with the support of the Liwa al Quds, a joint Palestinian-Syrian coalition, liberating the Awaija district of Aleppo with reports of fierce street-to-street fighting. With the Awaija district coming under pro-Government control, focus shifted towards an offensive at the heart of the Tel al Quiega district, along with fighting in northern Aleppo. While the Syrian Army has made significant progress around the city, these recent advances mark a major victory for the pro-Government forces in the past three months within the greater Aleppo area.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported that at least 358 civilians have died in eastern Aleppo since the US/Russian truce collapsed in September. The United Nations reports that more than 100 children have been killed. Aleppo’s besieged population of roughly 275,000, which includes 100,000 children, is in desperate need of food, water and medical supplies.

VIDEO: Aerial Footage Shows Scale Of Destruction In Aleppo https://t.co/0iZSvmeVW9

— NPR (@NPR) October 11, 2016

The progress of President Bashar Al Assad’s campaign has been greatly bolstered by Russia’s ability to maintain constant aerial bombardment of rebel forces. This prompted a UN Security Council vote October 8 on a draft resolution calling for the end of military flights over Aleppo. The resolution also called for a truce, as well as the safe passage of humanitarian workers in the area. Russia vetoed the resolution, in turn, presenting its own draft resolution, urging renewal of the failed cease-fire agreement. However the proposed resolution did not address cessation of aerial bombing. The Russian resolution did not pass as well, failing to garner the necessary votes. With both resolutions failing, Syria’s pro-government coalition continued its aerial bombardment much to the condemnation of the United Nations and other pro-rebel countries.

Reportedly, the US and Russia, along with Turkey, Saudi Arabia and possibly Qatar, will meet this Saturday to discuss a new ceasefire in Syria. The US State Department and Russian Foreign Ministry have confirmed today that US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will meet with foreign ministers in Switzerland to “discuss a multilateral approach to resolving the crisis in Syria, including a sustained cessation of violence and the resumption of humanitarian aid deliveries,” the State Department said. The US Embassy in Syria tweeted confirmation of the agenda.

The UN estimates that 250,000 people have died as a result of the Syrian conflict, which has driven more than 4.8 million refugees to neighboring countries, hundreds of thousands to Europe, and displaced 6.6 million people inside Syria.

Follow Lima Charlie News for updates on the crisis in Syria and the anticipated ceasefire talks.

Lima Charlie News, MENA Desk, with John Sjoholm and Mario Figueroa

John Sjoholm is the Lima Charlie’s Middle East Bureau Chief, and the founder of the consulting organization Erudite Group. He is a seasoned Middle East connoisseur, with a past in the Swedish Army’s Special Forces branch and the Security Contracting industry. He studied religion and languages in Sana’a, Yemen, and Cairo, Egypt. He lived and operated extensively in the Middle East between 2005-2012 as part of regional stabilizing projects, and currently resides in Jordan.

Follow John on Twitter: @JohnSjoholmLC

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