U.S. Says Russian Support for Assad Has 'Exacerbated' Conflict

The United States on Thursday accused Russia of worsening the brutal Syrian conflict with its military action in support of President Bashar Assad, as international talks unfolded in Munich on ways to resolve the crisis.

"It has been Russian support for the Assad regime over the past months, and most recently in the siege on Aleppo, that has exacerbated, intensified the conflict," State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner told reporters.