The Syrian government is continuing an offensive to retake rebel-controlled areas. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says 40 civilians and 70 fighters on both sides of the conflict were killed in violence on Tuesday. The regime of Bashar al-Assad has dropped leaflets over the northern province of Idlib urging rebels to abandon their fight. Speaking in Brunei, Secretary of State John Kerry said the U.S. and Russia remain apart on key issues but agree on the need for a Syria peace conference “sooner rather than later.”

Secretary of State John Kerry: “We narrowed down some of the options with respect to the potential of that conference. We both agreed that that conference should happen sooner rather than later. We agreed that we are both serious, more than serious, committed to the Geneva process. We both agreed that our countries have an ability to be able to make a difference if we can pull together in that effort.”