Syria fighting eases as Russia-backed de-escalation deal takes effect

Fighting between Syrian rebel and government forces eased on Saturday as a Russian-led effort to shore up a ceasefire took effect, although battles continued on important frontlines near Hama and Damascus, rebels and a war monitor said.

The deal to create “de-escalation” zones in the major areas of conflict in western Syria took effect at midnight yesterday. The initiative was proposed by Russia, President Bashar al-Assad’s most powerful ally, with the support of Turkey, which backs the opposition. Iran, Assad’s other major ally, also backed it.

Political and armed opposition groups have rejected the proposal, saying Russia has been unwilling or unable to get Assad and his Iranian-backed militia allies to respect past ceasefires. The Syrian government said it backed the proposal but said it would continue to fight what it called terrorist groups across the country.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there had been a reduction in fighting across Syria since the deal came into force, but warned it was too early to say whether it would last. Observatory Director Rami Abdulrahman told Reuters:

The reduction in violence must be clear and lasting

A rebel commander said the general level of violence was reduced, but added: “Regime attempts (to advance) in the Hama countryside continue.”

The Observatory said it had not recorded any deaths as a result of fighting in the four zones since midnight, but there had been some violations. Breaches were seen mainly in northern Hama province, where Syrian government and allied forces have taken territory from rebels in recent weeks.

The Deal

Iran and Turkey agreed to the Russian proposal for de-escalation zones on Thursday. The text of the memorandum was published by the Russian foreign ministry on Saturday.

The agreement said four de-escalation zones would be established in Syria for a period of six months which could be extended if the three signatory countries agreed. Weaponry and air strikes were not to be used in those zones by combatants, the text said.

The agreement also included creating conditions for humanitarian access, medical assistance and the return of displaced civilians to their homes.

The de-escalation zones appear intended to halt conflict in specific areas between government forces and rebels, and would potentially be policed by foreign troops.

The US State Department voiced concerns about the deal, saying it was sceptical of Iran’s involvement as a guarantor of the accord and Damascus’ track record on previous agreements.

“We continue to have concerns about the Astana agreement, including the involvement of Iran as a so-called ‘guarantor’,” the State Department said in a statement on Thursday, adding:

Iran’s activities in Syria have only contributed to the violence, not stopped it.

Read: US jets can’t fly over safe zones in Syria, says Russia

The Zones

The largest de-escalation zone, in northern Syria, includes Idlib province and adjoining districts of Hama, Aleppo and Latakia with a population of over 1 million, the memorandum text said.

The other three zones are in northern Homs province, the Eastern Ghouta region east of Damascus and along the Jordanian border in southern Syria.

But one part of the Eastern Ghouta zone, Qaboun, is exempt from the deal, Defence Ministry official Lieutenant-General Sergei Rudskoi said on Friday. He said this was because Qaboun contained the al-Qaeda-linked group formerly known as the Nusra Front.

On Saturday the Observatory said rockets hit Qaboun, where the government has been pressing an offensive for several weeks, and there were clashes between rebels and government and allied forces.

Read: Ex-Nusra fighters to be evacuated from Syria’s Yarmouk camp