US: Syrian crisis would improve if Russia halts bombing

WASHINGTON

The situation in Syria would be better if Russia stopped bombing opposition groups, civilians and civilian infrastructure, a U.S. spokesman said Tuesday.

"That would be a big help to try to alleviating this problem on the [Turkey-Syria border]," said State Department spokesman John Kirby.

"A cease-fire would do wonders to help alleviate that concern ... the one that needs to happen first and foremost is a cease-fire".

Russia continues to act "as if they believe there is a military solution" to the conflict, Kirby said, while the U.S. believes in a political solution for Syria.

A protracted intervention in Syria could present problems for Moscow at home and abroad, according to Kirby.

"They'll get dragged into a conflict that won't end, which I don't think anybody believes would be good for the Russian people or the Russian country," he said. "They will inspire the attraction of foreign fighters and jihadis, not just to Syria, but even perhaps in their own country, which I don't think is in the interest of the Russian people or the Russian government."

The U.S. and other members of the International Syria Support Group working to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis, are now trying to figure out how “to get to a cease-fire" and how to "get the humanitarian access and aid to people" -- issues to be discussed in Munich later this week in a meeting that will attempt to resurrect peace talks.

A proposal by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on how to resolve the crisis and all other plans and perspectives would be discussed in Munich, according to Kirby, who did not provide details on the Russian plan.

More than 1,730 civilians have been killed since Russia began airstrikes against opposition forces in September, according to the Syrian National Coalition, a coalition of opposition groups in the civil war.