Syrian barrel bomb attack on rebels jeopardises US-Russia deal

A major offensive in the area close to Israel could risk drawing Washington further into the conflict Syrian army helicopters have dropped barrel bombs on opposition areas of the country's south-west for the first time in a year, reports said, in defiance of American demands that president Bashar al-Assad halt the assault. Related: Bully-boy Erdoğan is a threat to Turkey - and the world | Simon Tisdall