FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today marks the beginning of the seventh horrific year of the Syrian crisis. Syria’s people are suffering some of the worst forms of cruelty imaginable: air strikes, barrel bombs, sniper fire, chemical weapons attacks targeting civilians, and denial of access to food and water. The conflict has killed hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians and displaced nearly half the population of the entire country, including untold numbers of children, for whom war is all they have ever known. It is shameful that this conflict has lasted this long and continues with no end in sight.

The carnage in Syria must end. The United States renews its calls for a negotiated path to peace. We stand beside UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura as he facilitates dialogue to end the war, and we urge the international community to help in reaching a sustainable political settlement. A political solution must bring the Syrian people peace and stability, free from the threat of terrorism, the despotism of their own government, and interference from self-serving foreign states.

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