US-Russia peace talks on Syria falter

{mosads}The U.S. delegation to the talks in Geneva included Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Beth Jones and the U.S. Ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford.

Responding to the slew of bad news from Syria, the White House issued an unusual statement decrying Hezbollah’s role in the fighting alongside regime troops and reiterating that the administration “stands firmly on the side of the Syrian people in their fight for freedom and dignity.”

“We will continue to provide support to the moderate political and military opposition to help them shift the balance on the ground to advance a political transition (…),” the White House said. “Assad’s refusal to step aside is only prolonging the suffering of the Syrian people and postponing the inevitable. Assad’s reign will end, and the Syrian people will build a new, democratic Syria without him. Those who have committed these heinous crimes against the Syrian people will be held accountable.”

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