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US calls on Russia to cease Idlib fight amid terror strikes

The Pentagon called for Russia to halt its offensive into Syria’s Idlib province as the United States launched strikes into the contested region aimed at al-Qaeda leaders.
A motorbike burns after an airstrike in this screen grab taken from a social media video said to be taken in Idlib, Syria on July 16, 2019. Picture taken July 16, 2019. White Helmets/social media via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. - RC1FFC6630A0

The Pentagon is warning Russia to stop bombing to support the Syrian regime’s offensive in Syria’s contested Idlib province as the United States launched strikes deep into the region aimed at al-Qaeda leaders this weekend.

The US Central Command targeted a jihadi camp Saturday, reportedly killing 40 militants just hours before a Russian-backed unilateral cease-fire took effect; this was the second such US attack in northwest Syria this summer. But as the United States moves against the militants' presence, the Defense Department says Russia has repeatedly violated its 2018 deescalation deal with Turkey by targeting infrastructure in the region.

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