"The Bashar Assad regime has clearly opted for military escalation, though, everyone knows that there will be no other but political solution to the conflict in Syria. I therefore appeal to its supporters, Russia and Iran, to pull themselves together and to demonstrate responsibility by halting this strategy, which leads to the deadlock. Otherwise, Russia and Iran will be complicit in war crimes committed in Aleppo," Ayrault said as quoted in the ministry's press release.
It is up to the United Nations Security Council to push for an immediate cessation of hostilities, first and foremost in Aleppo, thereby allowing civilians to get access to humanitarian aid, according to the foreign minister.
In September 2015, Russia launched an anti-terror aerial operation in Syria prompting the Syrian government to start the offensive. Damascus currently controls some 40-45 percent of the country's territory including the centers of the biggest cities such as Damascus, Latakia, Tartus, Homs, Hama and partially Aleppo.
Damascus also receives support from the Lebanese Hezbollah militant group and Iraq's Shia community as well as Iran, which denies direct military involvement into the conflict claiming that its military advisers were supporting the Syrian government.
Syria has been mired in civil war since March 2011, with government forces loyal to Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups.
