Esra Kaymak
05 October 2016•Update: 05 October 2016
By Esra Kaymak Avci
WASHINGTON
The U.S. will now talk to "like-minded allies" to plot the next steps for a solution fin Syria, the State Department said Tuesday.
The remarks came one day after the U.S. ended bilateral cooperation with Moscow to seek a cease-fire in the war-ravaged nation.
"With regard to the way forward in the civil war in Syria, we're talking to like-minded allies, partners, within the ISSG [International Syria Support Group] and we're meeting internally as a government to plot out the next steps," agency spokesman Mark Toner said during a press briefing.
According to the spokesman, U.S. officials are currently reviewing diplomatic, military intelligence and economic options at multilateral and unilateral levels to have the discussions about the war-torn country.
"We're going to work with other members of the ISSG," he said. "We are looking at how we can leverage and work with the other members of the ISSG."
The ISSG, established last year during Vienna talks to find a solution for the crisis in Syria, is co-chaired by the U.S. and Russia.
The U.S. and Russia agreed in February to a cessation of hostilities in Syria -- to bring the Syrian regime and the opposition to the table to find a political solution.
Halting the violence was a precondition of the Syrian opposition to start negotiations. The talks could never begin, however, as the cease-fire could not be achieved totally.
Tensions between Washington and Moscow flared Monday when the U.S. announced it suspended bilateral cooperation with the Russians as a cease-fire could never be achieved.
