Air raids carried out by either Syrian or Russian aircraft on Monday struck at least 18 of 31 aid trucks near Aleppo, Syria, multiple outlets confirmed Monday evening.
Local authorities are still working to determine the number of casualties from the attacks, which came after a weeklong cease-fire between the Syrian government and rebel group fell apart.
A local witness told Reuters the hours-long attack began with “an hour of extremely fierce bombing” and was followed by two barrel bombs. The aid trucks were struck just west of Aleppo, but it is not clear which organization the trucks belonged to or the number of casualties.
The city and surrounding areas have been hit by 35 missile strikes since the truce, brokered by the U.S. and Russia, was called off by Syria’s military earlier in the day. Russian President Vladimir Putin has backed Syrian President Bashar Assad, making it unclear which nation was behind Monday’s strikes.
President Obama and Putin had attempted to muster a long-term cease-fire between the Syrian government and rebel groups, who have fought for control of the country for five years, prompting millions to flee the violence as refugees.
But Secretary of State John Kerry said it was too early to declare the cease-fire over because that authority is with U.S. and Russian officials.
