A ceasefire that held in Syria for a week collapsed violently yesterday with the bombardment of rebel-held eastern Aleppo city and an attack that struck 18 trucks in a UN humanitarian aid convoy.

At least 36 people were killed, including 12 in the aid convoy, according to activists and the Britain-based Observatory for Human Rights. Among the dead were aid workers, the reports said. Dozens were injured.

A senior US administration official denounced the “outrageous attack”, saying it was a serious blow to truce efforts and placing initial blame on Russia, which flies bombing mission in Syria to back government forces.

The official, who spoke to reporters on a conference call, pointed the finger at Russia.

The UN said 18 of the 31 trucks taking part in the aid mission near Urum al-Kubra outside Aleppo were hit. The source and type of attack is under investigation.

UN humanitarian chief Stephen O’Brien said on Twitter he was “disgusted an aid convoy was hit” and urged an end to attacks on civilians and “brave and selfless humanitarian workers”.

The airstrikes in the city and its vicinity began shortly after nightfall, following a declaration by the Syrian army, loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, that the ceasefire brokered by the United States and Russia had ended.

Rebels and the government traded blame for the collapse of the deal, each claiming the other had breached the agreement hundreds of times since it went into effect last Monday.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said he was awaiting information from Russia on the steps going forward. He was speaking in New York, where world leaders are gathering for the annual UN General Assembly.

“The important thing is the Russians need to control Assad, who evidently is indiscriminately bombing, including of humanitarian convoys,” Kerry said. Kerry was to hold talks on Monday night with key partners, the senior administration official said.

Aid agencies, including the Syrian Red Crescent (SARC), had earlier said they were carrying out deliveries in the Aleppo countryside.

“We are deeply shocked that humanitarian workers and missions have yet again suffered from the brutality of this conflict,” said Ingy Sedky, a spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Rebel-held eastern Aleppo city, with hundreds of thousands of residents, has been cut off from aid deliveries since July, despite the ceasefire, making the situation more difficult.

Ibrahim al Hajj, a member of the White Helmets, a rescue group operating in rebel held areas, told dpa there had been a large number of airstrikes.

‘Simple things like bandages are lacking’

“Our hospitals are lacking essential first aid supplies. Simple thing like bandages are lacking,” he said by telephone from eastern Aleppo. “The situation inside hospital is miserable.”

The parties to the conflict had forecast the collapse of the ceasefire recently, as tensions mounted.

An airstrike on a Syrian army post in the east of the country on Saturday by the US-led anti-Islamic State coalition killed more than 60 Syrian soldiers, further complicating the ceasefire.

The US and its allies have expressed regret for the incident, with Washington saying Islamic State was the target.

The army statement said the ceasefire “was a real chance to stop the bloodshed, but the armed terrorist groups flouted this agreement and failed to comply with the application of any provision of its clauses,” alleging 300 violations by rebels.

Mohammed Alloush, a former top negotiator and a member of the Islam Army (Jaish al Islam) rebel group, blamed the government, claiming “this regime has violated the ceasefire more than 250 times”.

Ahead of the Syrian army announcement, Russian General Sergei Rudskoi accused the rebels of violating the deal, rendering it “meaningless”.

Moscow also expressed anger that Washington failed to separate so-called moderate opposition members from United Nations-designated terrorists, including al-Qaeda-linked militants.

Some aid was delivered to both rebel-held areas and government controlled territories shortly before the army declared the ceasefire over.

Turkey, a staunch backer of the rebels, has renewed its urging for a no-fly zone in northern Syria, something policy makers in Washington have argued would be hard to implement, especially given the Russian air force’s involvement in the war.

- dpa