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UPDATE 1945 GMT: The US Embassy in Turkey has vigorously responded to President Erdoğan’s claims of American support for “terrorist” groups in Syria, denouncing “considerable misinformation circulating in Turkish media”.

The Embassy insisted:

The United States government is not supporting Daesh [the Islamic State]. The USG did not create or support Daesh in the past. Assertions the United States government is supporting Daesh are not true.

The United States government has not provided weapons or explosives to the [Syrian Kurdish militia] YPG or the [Turkish Kurdish insurgency] PKK.

While the US has never armed Islamic State — despite claims by the Assad regime as well as Erdoğan — the Embassy’s statement on the YPG is close to deceptive: the US has provided assistance through airstrikes, special forces, and weapons to the YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces in its offensive against the Islamic State since October 2015.

UPDATE 1930 GMT: Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said that a ceasefire agreement covering all of Syria is “close”, but rebel factions deny receiving any proposal.

Cavusoglu said Turkey and Russia are close to brokering the agreement: “We are still working on it. It could be put into place at any moment. It’s about expanding the cease-fire. We are also working for a negotiated political solution.”

However, a range of rebel factions — including Faylaq al-Sham, Ahrar al-Sham, and the Free Syrian Army — said they had not been given the text.

The Kremlin said it could not comment on the ceasefire report.

“I cannot answer that question right now,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. “I don’t have sufficient information.”

Turkey has been in talks with rebel factions in Ankara; however, rebel officials said they had rejected suggestions of a ceasefire because they only covered part of Syria and not all rebel factions.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has staked out Turkey’s position on the next stage of Syria’s crisis, highlighting a developing co-operation with Russia while implicitly insisting that a leading Syrian Kurdish faction is not involved in talks for a political resolution.

In his latest statement on Tuesday night, Erdoğan referred to forthcoming negotiations in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, which may include representatives of the Assad regime and of opposition groups. He said that the talks, fostered by a Turkish-Russian alliance and recent developments in and near Syria’s largest city Aleppo, must not include the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Party (PYD).

Turkey has always had a leading role in the 69-month Syrian conflict, as a major supporters of the opposition and rebels. However, since the summer it has pivoted towards Russia, the essential backer of the Assad regime. Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin struck an unannounced accord, in which Ankara accepted the reoccupation by pro-Assad forces of all of Aleppo city. At the same time, Moscow stood aside as Turkey intervened alongside rebels in much of Aleppo Province, pushing back the Islamic State while also drawing a line against the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.

With the reoccupation of Aleppo city completed last week, both Russia and Turkey are now looking to the arrangements for political talks. Joined by Iran, the other key ally of President Assad, the two countries have announced the beginning of the discussions in Kazakhstan next month. The US, which had been allied with Turkey while working with Russia since autumn 2013, has been cut out of the process.

Key questions about the talks are not settled, such as who will be the “opposition” speaking with representatives of the Assad regime. Ankara is determined that the PYD — which has become the leading Kurdish faction because of its YPG militia — is not at the table, even though the Kurds now control much of northeast Syria and have the backing of Washington.

As it maneuvered for political advantage in early 2015, Russia included the PYD in talks in Moscow between the Assad regime and a nominal “opposition”. However, since its reconciliation with Turkey, Moscow has not outlined its position the Kurdish group.

Meanwhile, Ankara’s position has been complicated in recent days by a setback for the Turkish-rebel offensive in Aleppo Province. The month-long effort to capture the town of al-Bab, the last major Islamic State position, was renewed last week. But it has struggled, with ISIS repelling a series of assaults and destroying a number of armored vehicles. Turkey is also facing possible international criticism over its killing of scores of civilians — reports say up to 120 — by airstrikes near and in al-Bab.

“US Gives Support to Terrorist Groups”

Speaking at a press conference alongside his Guinean counterpart last night, Erdoğan drew the line, “We will not welcome a decision to invite terrorist organizations to the summit [in Kazakhstan].”

The President then made clear whom he considered to be “terrorists” by turning on the US-led coalition, which has been working with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces since October 2015:

They were accusing us of supporting Daesh. Now they give support to terrorist groups including Daesh [the Islamic State], YPG, PYD. It’s very clear. We have confirmed evidence, with pictures, photos and videos.

Erdoğan also blamed Washington for the difficulties over the al-Bab offensive, accusing it of withholding support through aerial operations, “Even though the US-led coalition has failed to keep its promises in our operation to liberate Al-Bab, we will rid the city of Daesh terrorists, no matter what.”

He added, “We will not take a step back from our decision to liberate Al-Bab, that’s impossible.”

Video: Damascus Water Supply Disrupted by Regime Attacks

More footage of the damage to the pumping station at Wadi Barada, northwest of Damascus, threatening the capital’s water supply:

Regime forces have bombarded the Wadi Barada area, with 13 villages and about 100,000 people, since last week with rocket-guided mortars and artillery shells. They trying to overrun the pocket after the opposition rejected a demand to capitulate.

The al-Fija spring supplies about 60% of the capital’s water. Reports say some areas of Damascus are now cut off.

The regime has tried to cover up any responsibility with the claim that rebels “poisoned” the supply with diesel fuel.

Pro-opposition activists say the regime attacks continued today with tanks, howitzers, Volcano rockets, and barrel bombs.

White Helmets rescuers said one person was killed and “many injured” by six airstrikes and 24 shellings on civilian areas.

Water overflowing onto roads after the damage of the pumping station:

Video: Russian-Regime Airstrikes Continue on Western Aleppo Province

A Russian-regime airstrike near displaced persons’ camps in western Aleppo Province on Tuesday:

Following the reoccupation of all of Aleppo city by pro-Assad forces last week, Russia and the Assad regime have sustained aerial assaults to the west, where many residents have been relocated. More than a dozen people have reportedly been killed in Atareb this week.

Aftermath of attacks on al-Jain and Atareb: