inside syria but to people across the world. in 2012, the muslims began their assault on the city of aleppo. that s when he started seeing children becoming victims of war. children getting caught in the crossfire. children being killed by spray bullets, by snipers, by rockets, as rebels and government forces continued to fight on and on for weeks, sometimes over just a matter of 100 feet. but the real horrors came for children when the barrel bombs began. the conflict took an even uglier turn in 2013 when the government used sarin gas against the people in a damascus suburb. i don t think anyone can forget seeing the images of the children s bodies wrapped in these white shrouds. since then there has been no end to depravity. we have seen children who have
welcome back to our viewers here in the united states and all around the world. you are watching cnn newsroom live from atlanta. i m natalie apple. i m jorm howell. first to syria. people there are holding out hope this latest cease-fire will hold. this is aleppo. more calm now than we ve seen before. some of the worst violence of the civil war has taken place right where you see it. it was russia and turkey who orchestrated the new peace deal between the syrian regime and various rebel militias. but many groups were excluded from those talks. and notably, the u.s. had no part to play either. joining is colonel rick francona. happy new year to you. thank you for joining us. and to you. this isn t the first time as
that s why some are supporting not just the sanctions president obama has put in place but also gunning for more sanctions in the future. it s not just republicans who believe that. adam schiff, one of the most influential members of the house of representatives and a democrat said it s likely he believes the u.s. should amp up its sanction of russia next year in the next congress. betsy wood, larry is a badda to, we appreciate both your insights, thank. much more on russia s hacking still ahead this hour. we ll show you exactly how they did it. and the e-mail that started it all. plus, aleppo, syria at peace. not something we ve seen very often. why this newest cease-fire finally could make a lasting reality. we are live from atlanta, broadcasting across the u.s. and worldwide this hour. this is cnn newsroom. tokyo-style ramen noodles.
you know well that parties agreed to auto cease-fire in syria. any indication this time, any chance at the celebration of the new year this agreement could hold? well, this is different this time. the conditions that led up to this agreement have changed. if you look at the situation on the ground in northern syria, the rebels have been dealt vafr blows. not the least of which was the loss of aleppo. and with the russians demonstrating their willingness to use whatever power it takes to subdue the rebels i think they realize they better make whatever deal they can get. if you look at the military situation with the regime now firmly in control of aleppo or cole consolidating their positions there. it looks pretty grim for the rebels and i think they realize that. and i think they realize that maybe they need to sit down and talk to the other side.
also they are looking at the results of the u.s. election. and they know come january 20th there is a new administration. mr. trump said he is not in favor of overthrowing all the regimes in the middle east. they are not sure what kind of backing they are going after the administration comes into power. i think they are more willing to talk. on the other side. you have got the government who now is feeling momentum. they have been sum of it s good that everybody is willing to sit down and go to the table. but the rebels are definitely in the lesser position here. right. yes, because you are right, you know, russia along with the regime, pounded aleppo. and you would think the russia may have the impetus now to help make this stick. one of the challenges, though, of course, that always got in the way of the earlier efforts was the fact there are so many groups and factions involved in the conflict. russia says almost all of them are on board this time. but how challenges will it be