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Syria no-bombing zone on agenda as Boris Johnson meets allies Syria no-bombing zone on agenda as Boris Johnson meets allies
(35 minutes later)
Boris Johnson has formed an axis with the French government and the US secretary of state to consider the longer-term viability of imposing a no-bombing zone in Syria.Boris Johnson has formed an axis with the French government and the US secretary of state to consider the longer-term viability of imposing a no-bombing zone in Syria.
The proposition, which is still thought to lack significant support within the White House and Downing Street, is to be discussed along with plans for tougher economic sanctions against Russia at a meeting on Sunday in London attended by John Kerry, the French foreign minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, and leading Gulf states backing the Syrian opposition. The proposition, which is still thought to lack significant support within the White House and Downing Street, is to be discussed along with plans for tougher economic sanctions against Russia at a meeting on Sunday in London attended by John Kerry, Jean-Marc Ayrault, the French foreign minister, and leading Gulf states backing the Syrian opposition.
The idea has also gained traction with advisers to Hillary Clinton, and been discussed in the National Security Council, but there is little enthusiasm in the Obama administration to take military measures. It is not clear the extent to which Johnson is advocating a no-bombing zone, or merely pre-emptively canvassing the proposal before a change of US administration. The idea has gained traction with advisers to Hillary Clinton and been discussed in the national security council, but there is little enthusiasm in the Obama administration to take military measures. It is not clear the extent to which Johnson is advocating a no-bombing zone or merely pre-emptively canvassing the proposal before a change of US administration.
Kerry will at Sunday’s talks give a report back from an inconclusive meeting on Syria in Lausanne he held with Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Jordan and some Gulf states, including Qatar. European Union foreign ministers did not attend the talks, partly due to Russian pressure, even though they have military assets fighting Islamic State in Syria.Kerry will at Sunday’s talks give a report back from an inconclusive meeting on Syria in Lausanne he held with Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Jordan and some Gulf states, including Qatar. European Union foreign ministers did not attend the talks, partly due to Russian pressure, even though they have military assets fighting Islamic State in Syria.
Kerry claimed fresh ideas had been discussed at the Lausanne meeting, which was also attended by the UN special envoy, Staffan de Mistura, but little substantive emerged to suggest any progress towards a new ceasefire or humanitarian access to the besieged city of eastern Aleppo. Kerry claimed fresh ideas had been discussed at the Lausanne meeting, which was also attended by the UN special envoy, Staffan de Mistura. Little substantive conclusions emerged to suggest any progress towards a new ceasefire or humanitarian access to the besieged city of eastern Aleppo.
The Russian foreign ministry said: “The Russian side stressed that the guarantee for the restoration and successful implementation of the ceasefire regime and ensuring humanitarian access to all those in need is the separation of moderate opposition’s units from the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (al-Nusra) militants and other affiliated terrorist groups.”The Russian foreign ministry said: “The Russian side stressed that the guarantee for the restoration and successful implementation of the ceasefire regime and ensuring humanitarian access to all those in need is the separation of moderate opposition’s units from the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (al-Nusra) militants and other affiliated terrorist groups.”
The west, the Syrian government and the Russians regard al-Nusra as a terrorist group linked to al-Qaida, but many among Syrian opposition forces battling to keep the rebellion alive do not make the same distinction. The west, the Syrian government and the Russians regard al-Nusra as a terrorist group linked to al-Qaida, but many among Syrian opposition forces battling to keep the rebellion alive do not make the same distinction. De Mistura has claimed as few as 800 of the fighters in eastern Aleppo are al-Nusra, but the basis for this estimate is unclear.
De Mistura has claimed as few as 800 of the fighters in eastern Aleppo are al-Nusra, but the basis for this estimate is unclear. Johnson, speaking in the House of Commons this week, supported separation but said it was not realistic to expect eastern Aleppo fighters to disentangle themselves from al-Nusra in advance of a ceasefire. Turkey, which is currently enjoying warmer relations with Russia, has indicated it also wants the moderates to distance themselves from al-Nusra.
Johnson, speaking in the House of Commons this week, supported separation but said it was not realistic to expect eastern Aleppo fighters to disentangle themselves from al-Nusra in advance of a ceasefire. Turkey, which is currently enjoying warmer relations with Russia, has indicated it also wants the moderates to disentangle themselves from al-Nusra. Despite the talks, the Russian-backed Syrian government has continued to bombard Aleppo, and Iranian government news agencies claimed hundreds of Syrian fighters were now willing to give up their weapons in exchange for a safe passage out of the city. The Syrian government is determined to crush the rebellion in Aleppo, the second city of Syria, and then move on to other military targets.
Despite the talks, the Russian-backed Syrian government has continued to bombard Aleppo and Iranian government news agencies claimed hundreds of Syrian fighters were now willing to give up their weapons in exchange for a safe passage out of the city. Johnson is being pressed by the Syrian opposition to realise that the west will make no diplomatic, let alone military, progress against Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, unless it puts the the credible threat of military leverage behind its diplomacy. It argues the ceaseless round of fruitless diplomatic discussions is being used by Russia and the Syrians to move towards outright military victory.
The Syrian government is determined to crush the rebellion in Aleppo, the second city of Syria, and then move on to other military targets. A no-bombing zone would cover the whole of Syria and would prohibit bombing from all aircraft. Monitoring would be conducted by existing western assets in the region, with any breach of the ceasefire leading to a reprisal on Syrian, not Russian targets, such as air runways or regime installations.
Johnson is being pressed by the Syrian opposition to realise that the west will make no diplomatic, let alone military, progress against President Bashar al-Assad unless it puts the the credible threat of military leverage behind its diplomacy. It argues the ceaseless round of fruitless diplomatic discussions is being used by Russia and the Syrians to move towards outright military victory. Monitoring would not require overflights or any pre-emptive military strikes against Syrian air defence systems, it is claimed. The Syrian moderates claim the proposal would ensure delivery of humanitarian aid to stem the loss of 200 lives a week, the implementation of UN security council resolutions and the combatting of extremism by removing radicalising factors, including the lack of civilian protection by the west.
A no bombing zone would cover the whole of Syria and would prohibit bombing from all aircraft. Monitoring would be conducted by existing western assets in the region, with any breach of the ceasefire leading to a reprisal on Syrian, not Russian targets, such as air runways or regime installations,
Monitoring would not require overflights or any pre-emptive military strikes against Syrina air defence systems, it is claimed. The Syrian moderates claim the proposal would ensure delivery of humanitarian aid to stem the loss of 200 lives a week, the implementation of UN security council resolutions and the combatting of extremism by removing radicalising factors, including the lack of civilian protection by the west.
Syrian opposition forces, faced by the claim that such a measure would inevitably provoke a Russian military response, argue Russia itself would not be attacked, and previous threatened military strikes by the west against the Syrian government led to a political, not military response by Russia.Syrian opposition forces, faced by the claim that such a measure would inevitably provoke a Russian military response, argue Russia itself would not be attacked, and previous threatened military strikes by the west against the Syrian government led to a political, not military response by Russia.
The Syrian opposition, still excluded from both Saturday and Sunday’s talks, claim the measure would be legal since there is an overwhelming humanitarian need, a lack of alternatives and the action would be deemed both necessary and proportionate.The Syrian opposition, still excluded from both Saturday and Sunday’s talks, claim the measure would be legal since there is an overwhelming humanitarian need, a lack of alternatives and the action would be deemed both necessary and proportionate.