Escalating Syria violence threatens ceasefire

Fighting escalated on several fronts Thursday around Syria's second city Aleppo as a Russian-backed government offensive strained a landmark ceasefire and a new round of peace talks in Geneva. In the Swiss city, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura criticised President Bashar al-Assad's government for hindering efforts to deliver life-saving assistance to Syrians in need. On the ground, government fighters, rebels and jihadists battled for control of swathes of Aleppo province, threatening a nearly seven