Washington, DC - State Department: "We are horrified by the reports that the Assad regime’s airstrikes yesterday in Raqqah, Syria, killed dozens of civilians and demolished residential areas. We have consistently condemned the regime’s violence directed against civilians and its ongoing human rights abuses and violations of international law, including murder, hostage-taking, enforced disappearances, torture, rape, sexual violence, and the indiscriminate use of barrel bombs.

"The Assad regime’s continued slaughter of Syrian civilians further exposes its callous disregard for human life. We’ve been clear that Assad long ago lost all legitimacy to govern and that the Syrian regime must be held responsible for its brutality and atrocities against the Syrian people. We remain committed to supporting the Syrian opposition and working towards a political solution that stops the violence and leads to a future of freedom and dignity for all Syrians."