Kerry warns Syria's Assad of "repercussions" over ceasefire violations

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday warned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of "repercussions" if his government does not adhere to the ceasefire agreement.

"Unequivocally, if Assad does not adhere to this, there will clearly be repercussions," Kerry told reporters at the State Department. "And one of them may be the total destruction of the ceasefire and they go back to war."

Kerry's warning came amid renewed violence in Aleppo, Syria's largest city, where the al-Nusra Front and other groups have engaged in bitter fighting with Syrian military over the past ten days.

"There may be even other repercussions that are being discussed, but that is for the future to determine," Kerry said.

The Syrian government has accused the rebels in Aleppo of violating the U.S.-Russia-backed truce, which went into effect in late February.

On Monday, Kerry met with United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura in Geneva in an effort to restore the fragile truce and seek more support for a political transition.

De Mistura expressed deep concern over deteriorating situation and continued violence in Syria, particularly in Aleppo, warning that "it is putting the cessation of hostilities at a high risk."

On Tuesday, Kerry also urged Assad to start a political transition by Aug. 1.

"So we're now coming up to May. So either something happens in these next few months, or they are asking for a very different track," Kerry said, without specifying what actions the United States will take. Enditem