WASHINGTON — Even as Western nations pleaded for a pause in the fighting in Aleppo to evacuate the wounded, a growing sense of confusion and uncertainty has settled on diplomatic efforts to try to ease the suffering in Syria, fueled by steady Syrian regime advances that saw it retake the old city of rebel-held eastern Aleppo on Dec. 7, as well as the US presidential transition.
Syrian rebel factions asked for a cease-fire in Aleppo Dec. 7, which the regime initially rejected, and were reportedly considering a previously rejected proposal to leave the city.