Syrian crisis: Obama, Putin seal ceasefire

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon hails an agreed ceasefire in Syria as a “long-awaited sign of the hope”.

Syrian volunteers and their relatives wave the national flag and portraits of President Bashar al-Assad as they celebrate at the end of a paramilitary training conducted by the Syrian army in al-Qtaifeh, 50 kms north of the capital Damascus on February 22, 2016. / AFP / LOUAI BESHARA

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon hailed as a “long-awaited sign of the hope” the ceasefire in Syria stitched up by Washington and Moscow, but an end to the bloodshed seems unlikely.

Under the deal, signed off in a phone call between Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin, the Americans will take charge of keeping the Syrian rebels in line, while Russia has responsibility for the Syrian government side led by dictator Bashar al-Assad.

But as the main jihadist groups, Islamic State and al-Qa’ida ­franchise Jabhat al-Nusra, have been left out, along with other UN-designated terrorist groups, the devastating Russian air campaign in support of Syrian government is likely to continue.

Russia claims it targets “terrorists”, when the US and independent observers say most of the strikes are against civilians and the moderate Syrian opposition, which has waged a five-year war against the Assad regime.

Mr Obama welcomed the ­limited truce in the call to Mr Putin, which the White House said was requested by the Russian President. The ceasefire is due to take effect at the weekend.

“This is going to be difficult to implement,” said White House spokesman Josh Earnest. “We know there are a lot of obstacles, and there are sure to be some setbacks.”

Mr Putin called the agreement a “last real chance to put an end to the many years of bloodshed and violence”. Speaking on Russian television, he said Moscow would work with the Syrian government, and expects Washington to do the same with the opposition groups that it supports.

The leader of a Saudi-backed Syrian opposition alliance said rebel factions had agreed “in principle” to an internationally mediated temporary truce.

Riad Hijab did not elaborate but urged Russia, Iran and the Assad government to end attacks, lift blockades and release prisoners held in Syria.

The Syrian foreign ministry last night accepted the terms of the ceasefire. The regime would stop armed operations but would “continue counter-terrorism efforts” against Islamic State and al-Nusra.

The deal was preceded by some of the heaviest fighting of the war around the northern city of ­Aleppo, where Russian air support paved the way for regime forces to make sizeable advances at the ­expense of besieging rebels and also Islamic State.

Kurdish militia also seized ground, angering Ankara, which sees the Syrian Kurds as being aligned with PKK separatists waging a revived insurgency in neighbouring Turkey.

If the ceasefire can take hold it will be against fearful odds with so many parities involved and agendas in play.

In addition to the Russian airstrikes, US-led coalition warplanes are attacking Islamic State positions in Syria and Iraq; the Turks operate periodically against various Kurdish groups, while ­supplying some rebels; Saudi ­Arabia sends US-made missiles to CIA-vetted rebel groups; ­Islamic State forces are still active on the ground, fighting the regime, the rebels and at times Jabhat al-Nusra. Iranian Republican Guards and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia from Lebanon are on the front lines backing up what’s left of Assad’s army.

“We are all aware of the significant challenges ahead,” US ­Secretary of State John Kerry said. “Over the coming days, we will be working to secure commitments from key parties that they will abide by the terms.”

The cessation could lead to less violence, expanded humanitarian deliveries and help support the US goal of a “political transition to a government that is responsive to the desires of the Syrian people”, Mr Kerry said.

Like previous US-Russian statements, however, yesterday’s agreement was glaringly silent on Mr Assad’s future — perhaps the biggest stumbling block to a sustained peace. Beyond the new ceasefire date, the blueprint sets up a “communications hotline” and, if needed, a working group to monitor the truce. Violations are to be addressed by the working group with an eye toward restoring compliance and cooling tensions.

Additional reporting: Agencies