Syrian President Bashar al Assad's government needs to live up to its commitments to a cessation of hostilities, the White House said, adding that "safe zones" are not a practical alternative now.

"The Assad regime needs to live up to the commitments that they've made, and we would like to see the Russians use the influence that they have with the Assad regime to get them to do it," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters according to the New York Times.

Source: MENA