A temporary truce in Syria's second city Aleppo has been extended for another 72 hours as clashes raged further south. International condemnation continues to mount over deadly airstrikes on a displaced persons camp.
Syria's state news agency SANA said a "regime of calm" in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo and parts of Latakia province had been extended for 72 hours beginning at 1 a.m. on Saturday (2200 UTC Friday), Reuters reported.
Quoting the Russian Defense Ministry—one of Damascus's closest military allies—the report said the decision was "in order to prevent the situation from worsening" just minutes before the initial 48-hour truce for the city was due to expire.
The United States, which has been highly critical of the Syrian government and Russia, reacted with guarded enthusiasm.
"While we welcome this recent extension, our goal is to get to a point where we no longer have to count the hours and that the cessation of hostilities is fully respected across Syria," US State Department spokesman John Kirby said.
