In Syria, a ceasefire continues to unravel after U.S.-led bombers attacked a Syrian military position, killing scores of government soldiers and allowing ISIS fighters to overrun the survivors. U.S. military officials acknowledged Saturday’s attack near Deir ez-Zor, which killed more than 60 Syrian soldiers, saying they mistakenly believed they were targeting ISIS units. The attack came less than a week into a ceasefire brokered by the U.S. and Russia meant to separate warring factions and to allow humanitarian aid to reach besieged cities. It prompted Russia to call an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council, where Ambassador Vitaly Churkin questioned whether the attack was timed to derail the ceasefire.

Vitaly Churkin: “It is quite significant and, frankly, suspicious that the United States chose to conduct this particular airstrike at this time. Why would all of a sudden the United States choose to help the Syrian armed forces defending Deir ez-Zor? After all, they did nothing when ISIL was advancing on Palmyra. ISIL made a hundred-mile march without being attacked by the coalition.”

Russia’s Foreign Ministry accused the White House of defending ISIS, and Syria’s government said the attack proved the U.S. was aiding the group in a bid to topple the Assad regime. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power denounced such claims, and blasted Russia for calling a meeting of the Security Council.

Samantha Power: “If we determine that we did indeed strike Syrian military personnel, that was not our intention. And we, of course, regret the loss of life. This said, even by Russia’s standards, tonight’s stunt, a stunt replete with moralism and grandstanding, is uniquely cynical and hypocritical.”

Following the U.S. bombing, there were reports of other ceasefire violations across Syria, including at least four airstrikes in Aleppo.