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Syrian opposition greets news of truce with guarded optimism Syrian opposition greets news of truce with guarded optimism
(35 minutes later)
Members of Syria’s moderate, western-backed opposition have reacted with guarded optimism to news of a deal to pause hostilities, but said they did not trust Russia to keep its end of the bargain and halt an intense aerial campaign responsible for the most significant advances by forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad since the start of the civil war.Members of Syria’s moderate, western-backed opposition have reacted with guarded optimism to news of a deal to pause hostilities, but said they did not trust Russia to keep its end of the bargain and halt an intense aerial campaign responsible for the most significant advances by forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad since the start of the civil war.
Related: 'No one believes it': Aleppo losing hope amid doubts over ceasefireRelated: 'No one believes it': Aleppo losing hope amid doubts over ceasefire
Rebels also questioned the real impact of the deal on the ground, since it excludes the al-Nusra Front, al-Qaida’s affiliate in Syria, which operates in large swaths of the country’s territory.Rebels also questioned the real impact of the deal on the ground, since it excludes the al-Nusra Front, al-Qaida’s affiliate in Syria, which operates in large swaths of the country’s territory.
“We greet this announcement with tentative optimism,” said Issam al-Reis, the spokesman for the Southern Front, a western-backed opposition alliance fighting close to the Jordanian border. Issam al-Reis, a spokesman for the Southern Front, a western-backed opposition alliance fighting close to the Jordanian border, said: “We greet this announcement with tentative optimism.”
“However we are sceptical that Russia will hold to these commitments when its current policy is to indiscriminately bomb all parties in Syria into the dust, in particular civilians and moderate opposition, and with complete impunity, while saying they are bombing terrorists.” “However, we are sceptical that Russia will hold to these commitments when its current policy is to indiscriminately bomb all parties in Syria into the dust, in particular civilians and moderate opposition, and with complete impunity, while saying they are bombing terrorists.
“We are waiting for real action, we have now lost faith in words without real action,” he added. “We are waiting for real action, we have now lost faith in words without real action.”
Syria’s main opposition group welcomed the plan, its spokesman Salim al-Muslat told reporters. He cautioned, however, that the agreement must show effects before his group would join political talks with government representatives in Switzerland. Syria’s main opposition group welcomed the plan, its spokesman, Salim al-Muslat, told reporters. However, he warned that the agreement must show effects before his group would join political talks with government representatives in Switzerland.
“If we see action and implementation, we will see you very soon in Geneva,” he said.“If we see action and implementation, we will see you very soon in Geneva,” he said.
Turkey, a key backer of the opposition, urged an end to Russian airstrikes in the aftermath of the agreement in Munich. Turkey, a key backer of the opposition, called for an end to Russian airstrikes in the aftermath of the agreement in Munich.
“What is important now is embracing this opportunity, stopping the airstrikes, ceasing targeting civilians and providing humanitarian access,” said the foreign minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu. The Turkish foreign minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, said: “What is important now is embracing this opportunity, stopping the airstrikes, ceasing targeting civilians and providing humanitarian access.”
Russian airstrikes have been a major stumbling block facing peace talks and have paved the way for an Assad regime offensive that has nearly encircled Aleppo, Syria’s former commercial capital that is divided between the government and the opposition.Russian airstrikes have been a major stumbling block facing peace talks and have paved the way for an Assad regime offensive that has nearly encircled Aleppo, Syria’s former commercial capital that is divided between the government and the opposition.
The advance has so far displaced 51,000 civilians and placed 300,000 more at risk of being placed under siege, according to UN officials, who described the humanitarian situation there as “grotesque”.The advance has so far displaced 51,000 civilians and placed 300,000 more at risk of being placed under siege, according to UN officials, who described the humanitarian situation there as “grotesque”.
The Southern Front says Russia has conducted some 50 airstrikes a day on their positions since the end of November, a pace unparalleled since the start of the war and Moscow’s intervention last autumn that was advertised as a campaign against Islamic State but in reality has mostly targeted the mainstream opposition. The Southern Front says Russia has conducted about 50 airstrikes a day on its positions since the end of November, a pace unparalleled since the start of the war, and Moscow’s intervention last autumn – advertised as a campaign against Islamic State – has mostly targeted the mainstream opposition.
Another key stumbling block to the implementation of the deal is that it does not cover areas in which the al-Nusra Front is active. While operations against Isis will also be unaffected, al-Nusra has allied itself with Islamist rebels fighting Assad in various areas of the country, including in Aleppo. Another key stumbling block to the implementation of the deal is that it does not cover areas in which the al-Nusra Front is active. While operations against Isis will be unaffected, al-Nusra has allied itself with Islamist rebels fighting Assad in various areas of the country, including in Aleppo.
The UK’s former ambassador to Syria warned that the agreement appears to be an attempt by Russia to divide the rebels fighting the Assad regime. Peter Ford, who served in Damascus from 2003-06, said the agreement would have a big impact on rebels who work “hand in glove” with al-Nusra. The UK’s former ambassador to Syria warned that the agreement appears to be an attempt by Russia to divide the rebels fighting the Assad regime. Peter Ford, who served in Damascus from 2003-2006, said the agreement would have a big impact on rebels who work “hand in glove” with al-Nusra.
“They are going to get hit if they continue to work alongside al-Nusra in the designated areas. So Russia is being quite clever. Their game is to try to split the so-called moderates away from al-Nusra, so that the Syrian army, which suffers from depleted manpower, can tackle al-Nusra,” he told the BBC.“They are going to get hit if they continue to work alongside al-Nusra in the designated areas. So Russia is being quite clever. Their game is to try to split the so-called moderates away from al-Nusra, so that the Syrian army, which suffers from depleted manpower, can tackle al-Nusra,” he told the BBC.
An activist close to the powerful Ahrar al-Sham rebel movement said the agreement amounted to giving Russia time and international cover to continue bombing the opposition.An activist close to the powerful Ahrar al-Sham rebel movement said the agreement amounted to giving Russia time and international cover to continue bombing the opposition.
“I don’t expect Ahrar to accept because the agreement is completely illogical,” he said. “It is a waste of time because as long as Nusra is excluded from the agreement it means fighting will not stop in any area.” “I don’t expect Ahrar to accept because the agreement is completely illogical,” he said. “It is a waste of time because as long as Nusra is excluded from the agreement, it means fighting will not stop in any area.”
The Islamist Ahrar al-Sham is one of the most powerful rebel groups in Syria and a major component of the Jaysh al-Fateh coalition, which includes al-Nusra, and which conquered large areas of territory from the Assad regime in the province of Idlib last year. Related: Bullish Vladimir Putin is running rings around the west in Syria
It has recently sought to burnish its image in the west, declaring in op-eds in the Telegraph and Washington Post that it was committed to a multi-sectarian and democratic Syria. Both Ahrar and al-Nusra have a strong presence in Idlib and Aleppo in particular. Ahrar al-Sham is one of the most powerful rebel groups in Syria and a major component of the Jaysh al-Fateh coalition, which includes al-Nusra, and conquered large areas of territory from the Assad regime in the province of Idlib last year.
“Not only in Aleppo but in most liberated areas there is Nusra, and consequently this agreement cannot be implemented,” the activist said. It has recently sought to burnish its image in the west, declaring in op-eds in the Telegraph and the Washington Post that it was committed to a multi-sectarian and democratic Syria. Ahrar and al-Nusra have a strong presence in Idlib and Aleppo in particular.
The activist said: “Not only in Aleppo, but in most liberated areas, there is Nusra, and consequently this agreement cannot be implemented.”
He added that the agreement amounted to giving Russia permission to continue attacking the opposition, particularly in Idlib, which is entirely outside regime control.He added that the agreement amounted to giving Russia permission to continue attacking the opposition, particularly in Idlib, which is entirely outside regime control.
“In truth, there is no longer any confidence in the international community from the Syrian people, and everyone has become convinced that fighting terrorism is simply an excuse to destroy the revolution and the Syrian people,” the activist said.“In truth, there is no longer any confidence in the international community from the Syrian people, and everyone has become convinced that fighting terrorism is simply an excuse to destroy the revolution and the Syrian people,” the activist said.