Ceasefire calls as Russia, Turkey continue strikes in Syria

Australia has called on all parties to embrace a ceasefire in Syria amid fears that the proposal could collapse.

Civil defence members search for survivors after airstrikes by pro-Syrian government forces in the rebel held al-Qaterji neighbourhood of Aleppo, Syria February 14, 2016. REUTERS/Abdalrhman Ismail - RTX26W5W

Australia has called on all parties to embrace a ceasefire in Syria amid fears that the proposal could collapse after Turkey renewed its shelling of advancing Kurdish militants and Washington demanded Moscow end airstrikes on rebels.

The Australian has been told the Royal Australian Air Force task force will comply with whatever ceasefire conditions are ­accepted by the US-led coalition of which it is a part.

The RAAF’s fighter-bombers have not been bombing the groups in Syria, which are considering a ceasefire this week. But its “Classic” Hornets and Super Hornets are likely to continue striking the Islamic State terror group, which is not expected to be part of any agreement, both in Syria and Iraq.

When they encounter Russian aircraft over Syria, Australia’s fighter bomber crews are avoiding aggressive actions that could lead to confrontation. That includes “lighting up” the Russians with their radar systems, which could be seen as a preparation to firing a missile at them.

As well, the RAAF’s Wedgetail command and control aircraft — the world’s most sophisticated of its type and packed with technology that allows it to “see” a vast area — is playing a key role in keeping the Russian and coalition aircraft apart.

Russia has its most advanced missile system in Syria with the range to hit aircraft 400km away, which covers airspace used by ­coalition jets including those from the RAAF. It deployed its S-400 SAM system operating from Bassel al-Assad International Airport in the Latakia province of eastern Syria soon after one of its jets was shot down by the Turkish air force.

The missile has an effective range of up to 400km and is capable of contesting most of the airspace over Syria, southern Turkey, northern Jordan, a significant portion of Israel, and all of Lebanon and Cyprus.

Turkey defied US and French calls for restraint as it shelled a Kurdish-Arab alliance advancing in northern Aleppo province at the weekend, prompting condemnation from Syria’s government. The move came days after 17 countries agreed last week to implement a nationwide cessation of hostilities in a week.

Speaking in Tokyo yesterday Julie Bishop said Australia strongly supported the push for a ceasefire, which was essential to end the ­humanitarian crisis in the war-ravaged nation.

“If the conflict does not end the crisis will continue,” the Foreign Minister said.

“Australia’s position has been consistent that all parties in this conflict need to de-escalate the tensions. We support a ceasefire, we need to end the killing which will end the humanitarian crisis, so we have been very supportive of efforts by the United States and by the coalition to bring about a ceasefire.”

Ms Bishop said a ceasefire would allow the West to focus more effectively on crushing terrorist groups such as Islamic State in that country.

The plan for a ceasefire comes amid renewed tension between the US and Moscow over Russia’s bombing campaign in Syria which Washington believes is targeting moderate Syrian rebels, rather than Islamic State.

The White House said at the weekend that Barack Obama had urged his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the phone to end the strikes.

“President Obama emphasised the importance now of Russia playing a constructive role by ceasing its air campaign against moderate opposition forces in Syria,” the White House said.

The US and Russia remain divided over the fate of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, with Moscow insisting that he remain in power.

Ms Bishop declined to single out Russia yesterday except to say that “all parties” must embrace the ceasefire proposal. She said ultimately there had to be a government of national unity in Syria. “There must be a government of national unity that has support across the country and seek to do what we are trying to in Iraq and that is support the sovereign government, protect its own people and protect its own borders and that is what needs to happen in Syria,” she said.

Turkey’s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has vowed that Turkey will continue to strike back at Kurdish fighters of the Democratic Union Party in Syria despite the international push for a ceasefire. Turkey says it is targeting Kurdish forces it accuses of links to the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which has waged a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state.