WASHINGTON
The U.S. on Monday denounced the Syrian government for deadly barrel bomb attacks against civilians in Aleppo during the weekend.
"We strongly condemn the regime's latest deplorable use of barrel bombs in and around Aleppo," said State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf.
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported at least 70 deaths and nearly 200 others injured in a string of such attacks Saturday.
Harf said there are reports that indicate "the regime is making airstrikes in support of ISIL's advance on Aleppo, aiding the extremists in their attacks on the Syrian population.”
While the regime of President Bashar al-Assad claims it is fighting against Daesh, “the fact is there is no better recruiting tool for ISIL than the brutality of the Assad regime," she said.
Syria has been gripped by a stalemate since the regime launched a violent crackdown in response to anti-government protests in March 2011.
The crackdown triggered a conflict that has killed more than 220,000 people, including an excess of 10,000 children, according to the UN.
