One proposed way to get around the White House ’s long - standing objection to striking the Assad regime without a U.N. Security Council resolution would be to carry out the strikes covertly and without public acknowledgment , the official said . The CIA and the Joint Chiefs of Staff , represented in the Deputies Committee meeting by Vice Chairman Gen. Paul Selva , expressed support for such “ kinetic ” options , the official said . That marked an increase of support for striking conflict.attack.bombing Assad compared with the last time such options were considered . “ There ’s an increased mood in support of kinetic actions against the regime , ” one senior administration official said . “ The CIA and the Joint Staff have said that the fall of Aleppo would undermine America ’s counterterrorism goals in Syria . ”

" It is not uncommon for the Coalition Air Operations Center to confer with Russian officials as a professional courtesy and to deconflict Coalition and Russian aircraft , although such contact is not required by the current U.S.–Russia Memorandum of Understanding on safety of flight . " Nevertheless , the Russians are claiming their Syrian allies have been killed by the U.S. military , just as the U.S. and Russia are trying to maintain the fragile , nationwide cease - fire that went into effect Monday . That cease - fire calls on the Syrian regime to cease all airstrikes over U.S.-backed opposition forces and limits it to striking conflict.attack.bombing ISIS targets . It also calls for increased military cooperation between the U.S. and Russia after a seven - day period of calm and the sufficient delivery of humanitarian aid . Six days since the start of the cease - fire no aid has been delivered .

Two senior U.S. officials tell NBC News that thousands of ground troops are massing around Aleppo and they worry that the war - torn city could soon fall . The officials said on Friday they were awaiting a major ground operation as troops representing a mix of Syrian regime , Iranian Quds Force , Hezbollah , paid fighters from Iraq ( Badr Brigade ) and from Afghanistan gather . Russian fixed wing and Syrian regime helicopters continue to pound the city from the air and they are still striking conflict.attack.na Aleppo with artillery batteries outside the city . The officials expect this to continue once the ground forces move in . The senior U.S. officials told NBC News they hoped the rebels and residents could hold out a few more weeks , but that water is in such short supply , making the situation for those within the city 's confines more desperate .