(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The US on Monday condemned the barrel bomb attack in Aleppo, Syria by the Bashar Al-Assad regime, and blamed the government's actions for strengthening ISIL in the country.
"We strongly condemn the (Syrian) regime's latest deplorable use of barrel bombs in and around Aleppo in which at least 70 civilians were killed," State Department Spokesperson Marie Harf told reporters.
"In addition, we have heard reports that the regime is making airstrikes in support of ISIL's advance on Aleppo, aiding the extremists in their attacks on the Syrian population," she added.
"Beyond that, we have long seen that the regime avoids ISIL lines in complete contradiction to the regime's claims publicly to be fighting ISIL. The fact is there is no better recruiting tool for ISIL than the brutality of the Assad regime," Harf affirmed.
"Bashar al-Assad has lost legitimacy long ago and will never be an effective counterterrorism partner despite what he might say publicly," she continued.
"With these latest reports, not only has he once again demonstrated that he does not want to use his forces to root out ISIL's safe haven in Syria, but really on the contrary, he is actively seeking to bolster their position for his own cynical reasons," she said.
"A political transition is necessary to stabilize Syria, and protect the Syrian people," Harf concluded.
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