Syrian rebels and Iran resume ceasefire talks

A Syrian opposition group and a delegation from Iran have resumed talks intended to stop military operations in the villages of Fu’a and Kefraya, which have a Shia majority, and the city of Zabadani on the border with Lebanon. Ahmed Kara Ali, a member of rebel group Ahrar Al-Sham, spoke to Turkey’s Anadolu news agency on Wednesday.

“Negotiations have resumed between the two sides,” he confirmed, without providing further details. According to Ali, the movement wants to keep all options open, especially following the collapse of the previous ceasefire.

Meanwhile, anonymous sources near the villages in question revealed that they had received instructions to halt military operations in exchange for a similar ceasefire in the city of Zabadani, and other cities nearby, including Serghaya and Madaya.

Ahrar Al-Sham is the largest rebel group involved in the fighting in the villages. It said last week that ceasefire talks fell apart because of Iran’s insistence that rebels and residents must leave Zabadani and other predominantly Sunni towns near the Lebanese border.