Despite halt in airstrike, Russia didn't allow aid, food into East Aleppo: US

The United States has alleged that Russia let the residents of the besieged city of East Aleppo starve as it did not allow aid and food reach the city despite a three week halt in airstrikes.

State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said in a Tuesday press briefing, "Despite Russian claims that it halted airstrikes in the past month, Russia allowed no aid or food into East Aleppo; they let eastern Aleppo residents starve while seeking praise from the international community for halting indiscriminate strikes for three weeks."

She made the remarks while condemning the resumption of airstrikes in Syria by the Russians as well as the Syrian regime.

"We strongly condemn the resumption of airstrikes in Syria by the Russians as well as the Syrian regime. The most recent reported attacks are on five hospitals and one mobile clinic in Syria. We believe it's a violation of international law," she said.

She said that Washington has consistently tried to work to de-escalate violence in Syria, but instead of joining the efforts constructively, Russia again has backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime in his ruthless war against the people.

"It's hitting mobile clinics. It's hitting hospitals. Again, it's denying aid. We've said this repeatedly: Russia had an opportunity here to facilitate aid and food and medicine to these people under siege. It failed to do so," said Trudeau.

Moscow resumed airstrikes the day after Russian President Vladimir Putin called US President-elect Donald Trump to congratulate him on his victory in the presidential elections.

An official statement from Russia said that the two leaders discussed "regulating the conflict in Syria" and the need to combat "international terrorism and extremism".

During the election campaign, US officials had accused Russia of attempting to interfere in the election in favour of Trump, by hacking Democratic Party servers, a charge denied by Putin.