VOA常速英语:Syrian Air Assaults Must Stop

“The United States condemns the ongoing air assault by Syrian government forces on civilians, including the indiscriminate use of SCUD missiles and barrel bombs in and around Aleppo over the last week,” said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney in a statement released on December 23rd.

“The attacks over the weekend killed more than 300 people, many of them children,” Mr. Carney said.

“The Syrian government must respect its obligations under international humanitarian law to protect the civilian population. The Syrian government must fulfill its November commitment to do more to facilitate the safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance, so that millions of Syrian men, women, and children have access to urgently needed services.”

Syria's civil war, now into its third year, has killed more than 120,000 people, according to some reports. Millions have fled their homes because of the fighting.

The White House statement called for an end to the suffering of the Syrian people. “It is imperative, “said White Secretary Carney, “that Syrians reach a comprehensive and durable political solution to end the crisis in Syria. The United States remains committed to advancing a political settlement to help end the bloodshed in Syria.