A pro-Hayat Tahrir al-Sham meeting in Syria
The Al-Rahman Corps, Jaish al-Islam, Ahrar al-Sham, the Shami Front, Jaish al-Nasr, the Idlib Free Army and the Al-Yarmouk Army issued a joint statement commenting the Astana agreement on establishing of four safe zones in Syria.
The groups welcomed any action aimed at protecting civilians, but stressed that the Astana effort has not yet resulted in any real ceasefire holding by the Russian and Syrian side.
In the statement, the Islamic groups considered Iran an “enemy and occupying force for Syria and a supporter of terrorism” and rejected any Iranian role in the safe areas agreement.
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They also demanded the Russian air force to stop bombing of areas under their control, and to suspend agreements on the evacuation of civilians and militants from besieged areas. The statement argued that Russia has to work to release all the detainees by the Syrian government before it considers Russia as a real party in the current agreement.
The statement claimed that these Islamic groups are fighting terrorism in Syria, and that its source is Iran.
The statement called for the agreement to include safe zones in all opposition areas in the hint that it should include Al Qaeda-linked groups.
Both ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra had been founded in the areas under control of these “moderate opposition” groups. Jabhat al-Nasra, also known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), is a key ally of most of these factions, including Ahrar al-Sham, Jaish al-Nasr and the Idlib Free Army that participated with it in the last Hama offensive.
At the same time the memorandum signed by Turkey, Russia and Iran clearly says that HTS, ISIS and other al-Qaeda-linked groups are excluded from the ceasefire.
At the end of the statement, they affirmed their adherence to the five points stipulated by the Syrian Islamic Council, which stipulated that President al-Assad step down and establish an Islamic rule in Syria.
This contradicts to the principles of the Geneva negotiations set by the United States, Russia and other countries that confirm that Syria is a secular country.
It seems that the Islamic groups view the safe zones agreement as nothing more than a new opportunity to re-arm and re-organize their forces, especially after the failure of the last Hama offensive.
They will likely use the ceasefire in order to prepare for new attacks against the Syrian Arab Army in cooperation mainly with the al-Qaeda-linked HTS. As all previous agreements have ended.
The full text of the “Memorandum on the creation of de-escalation areas in the Syrian Arab Republic” (source):
The Islamic Republic of Iran, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkey as guarantors of the observance of the ceasefire regime in the Syrian Arab Republic (hereinafter referred to as “Guarantors”):
- guided by the provisions of UNSC resolution 2254 (2015);
- reaffirming their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic;
- expressing their determination to decrease the level of military tensions and to provide for the security of civilians in the Syrian Arab Republic,
have agreed on the following.
- the following de-escalation areas shall be created with the aim to put a prompt end to violence, improve the humanitarian situation and create favorable conditions to advance political settlement of the conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic:
- Idlib province and certain parts of the neighbouring provinces (Latakia, Hama and Aleppo provinces);
- certain parts in the north of Homs province;
- in eastern Ghouta;
- certain parts of southern Syria (Deraa and Al-Quneitra provinces).
The creation of the de-escalation areas and security zones is a temporary measure, the duration of which will initially be 6 months and will be automatically extended on the basis of consensus of the Guarantors.
- Within the lines of the de-escalation areas:
- hostilities between the conflicting parties (the government of the Syrian Arab Republic and the armed opposition groups that have joined and will join the ceasefire regime) with the use of any kinds of weapons, including aerial assets, shall be ceased;
- rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access shall be provided;
- conditions to deliver medical aid to local population and to meet basic needs of civilians shall be created;
- measures to restore basic infrastructure facilities, starting with water supply and electricity distribution networks, shall be taken;
- conditions for the safe and voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons shall be created.
- Along the lines of the de-escalation areas, security zones shall be established in order to prevent incidents and military confrontations between the conflicting parties.
- The security zones shall include:
– Checkpoints to ensure unhindered movement of unarmed civilians and delivery of humanitarian assistance as well as to facilitate economic activities;
– Observation posts to ensure compliance with the provisions of the ceasefire regime.
The functioning of the checkpoints and observation posts as well as the administration of the security zones shall be ensured by the forces of the Guarantors by consensus. Third parties might be deployed, if necessary, by consensus of the Guarantors.
- The Guarantors shall:
- take all necessary measures to ensure the fulfillment by the conflicting parties of the ceasefire regime;
- take all necessary measures to continue the fight against DAESH/ISIL, Nusra Front and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with Al-Qaeda or DAESH/ISIL as designated by the UN Security Council within and outside the de-escalation areas;
- continue efforts to include in the ceasefire regime armed opposition groups that have not yet joined the ceasefire regime.
- The Guarantors shall in 2 weeks after signing the Memorandum form a Joint working group on de-escalation (hereinafter referred to as the “Joint Working Group”) composed of their authorized representatives in order to delineate the lines of the de-escalation areas and security zones as well as to resolve other operational and technical issues related to the implementation of the Memorandum.
The Guarantors shall take steps to complete by 4 June 2017 the preparation of the maps of the de-escalation areas and security zones and to separate the armed opposition groups from the terrorist groups mentioned in para.5 of the Memorandum.
The Joint Working Group shall prepare by the above-mentioned date the maps of the de-escalation areas and security zones to be agreed by consensus of the Guarantors as well as the draft Regulation of the Joint Working Group.
The Joint Working Group shall report on its activities to the high-level international meetings on Syria held in Astana.
The present Memorandum enters into force the next day after its signing.
Done in Astana, 4 May 2017 in three copies in English, having equal legal force.
Signatures
Islamic Republic of Iran Russian Federation Republic of Turkey
Israeli proxies and spies cry is absolutely right. They should cry as much they can.
Criminal gangs are the same the world over. They will do anything to obtain money and power over the population. The terrorist criminals are just one step higher in criminality and this is simply ‘ Because they can ‘ in a country where wealthy state criminals from other nations such as the US, Turkey and Saudi Arabia are feeding the cycle of death for Geo Political gain.
You forgot to mention Russia and Iran.
Yeah, just look at all the countries Iran and Russia have invaded. Look also at all the terrorist groups they support that are slaughtering thousands of innocent people. NOT.
on the picture above. on the right side. that fat pig told in january 2016, that assad will be dead within 3 months. so, he is not the prophet2
Written in English.. now there is something going on.. I suspect it has to do with the Kurds and IS (et al).
Gee, the joint statement issued by the ‘opposition’ sounds just like the Israeli and US mouth pieces. Wonder if there is any connection? LOL…and who would be instigating this violence in the first place? Everyone but them. Right.