U.S. strongly condemns IS attacks in Syrian coastal cities

The United States strongly condemned the "horrific" attacks launched by the Islamic State (IS) group in two Syrian coastal cities, where at least 74 civilians were killed, the State Department said Monday.

Earlier in the day, as many as 45 people were killed when four blasts ripped through the coastal city of Jableh in Latakia province in Syria, followed by four bombings that rocked Tartus, 100 km from the province's capital.

The United States will continue to lead the global coalition to degrade and defeat the IS so that "it can no longer brutalize those who reject its tormented worldview," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement.

The United States also called for an end to the escalating attacks by the Syrian government forces on the cities of Aleppo and Daraya, as well as its besiegement of towns and obstruction of humanitarian access, according to the statement.

Toner said these actions demonstrated a disregard for the Cessation of Hostilities, UN Security Council Resolution 2254, and efforts to advance a political solution to the conflict, as well as the Syrian government's own commitments to facilitate full access for humanitarian relief supplies.

"Russia has a special responsibility in this regard to press the regime to end its offensive attacks and strikes that kill civilians, immediately allow relief supplies," Toner said.

In a call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier Monday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry raised these concerns and urged him to press the Syrian government to cease at once airstrikes against opposition forces and innocent civilians in Aleppo and the Damascus suburbs.

Earlier this month, the United States and Russia decided to intensify efforts to ensure the nationwide implementation of a ceasefire agreement in Syria.

Washington and Moscow would use their influence with the conflicting parties in Syria to press them to abide by the ceasefire agreement that went into effect on Feb. 27, according to a joint statement issued by the two countries.

(APD)