If the January 25 negotiations to achieve a broad political settlement in Syria fail, outside powers should "declare a cease-fire and find a way to impose it on their Syrian proxies," the New York Times editorial board writes today.
Citing the events this week around the besieged town of Madaya, where the UN has received "credible reports" that people are starving, the NYT writes:
Using food as a weapon violates international law, and the United States, Europe, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Iran, which all have influence with different proxy groups in Syria, have a responsibility to ensure that civilians have unconditional access to basic supplies.
There is confusion over the identity of the suicide bomber reportedly responsible for the blast this morning in Istanbul.
Turkish President Erdogan said earlier that the bomber was thought to be a 28-year-old Syrian, but local agencies are reporting that the bomber was born in Saudi Arabia.
From our news desk:
Bosnia Holds Four For Planning To Join IS Group
Authorities in Bosnia-Herzegovina say they have detained four people on suspicion of planning to join the Islamic State (IS) group.
Prosecutors said one of them, 22-year-old Senad Kostac, was detained in Turkey while trying to reach Syria and handed over to Bosnian authorities.
The other three, aged 26, 27 and 55, were arrested near the northwestern town of Velika Kladusa.
Several hand grenades, land mines, a machine gun, ammunition, and a flag of the IS group were seized during a police raid.
The operation followed similar raids in the Sarajevo area in December, when 11 people were arrested on suspicion of having links with the IS group. Eight of them were remanded in custody.
Bosnia hardened its legislation last year, allowing sentences of up to 20 years in jail for militants and their recruiters.
The confusion over the nationality of the Istanbul suicide bomber is ongoing.
Turkey's Dogan news agency is reporting that the Istanbul suicide bomber was a Saudi Arabian named Nabil Fadli, born 1988.
"Give us anything, biscuits, bread, anything" -- a first-hand account from an eyewitness with the UN convoy that entered the Syrian town of Madaya yesterday.
Turkey's Prime Minister Davutoglu has confirmed that the Istanbul suicide bomber was a foreign IS militant, tweets Reuters' Ece Toksabay.
There have been various reports from Turkey about the identity of the bomber, with some saying he was Syrian and others that he was Saudi-born.
More from Turkish prime minister Davutoglu, via Daily Sabah.