Fighters of Al-Rahman Corps rest inside a building on the frontline in the town of Bala in the eastern Ghouta region, on the outskirts of the capital Damascus (AFP)
Evaluations of the delicate ceasefire which came into effect in Syria on Friday at midnight vary. There has been an exchange of accusations about ceasefire violations between the regime and Russia on the one hand, and the Syrian opposition on the other hand. The head of the negotiating delegation of the Higher Negotiation Committee (HNC) Brigadier Asaad Al-Zoubi revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that approximately 33 violations were recorded within 48 hours and that 31 civilians had been killed. He confirmed Hezbollah’s involvement in breaking the ceasefire in Zabadani, Madaya, the eastern and western countryside of Idlib and eastern Ghouta. Russia, meanwhile, said that it had recorded nine ceasefire violations since it had come into effect.
The Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir stressed that in the event that the plan to bring humanitarian aid into Syria fails or the ceasefire is not adhered to, there are other options that will be considered including the plan B put forward by the US Secretary of State John Kerry. He added that this alternative plan “will be implemented in the case that the Syrian regime and its allies show a lack of seriousness.” Al-Jubeir also said at a press conference with his Danish counterpart Kristian Jensen that Bashar Al-Assad will not be part of the solution to the Syrian crisis and that he will be removed from power whether that will be through a peaceful solution or a military one. He added that the decision as to which of these options will be used is down to Bashar Al-Assad himself.
The Syrian opposition has begun to establish centres to monitor violations in areas under its control and have taken upon themselves the task of monitoring violations and informing the HNC of them. In turn, the HNC will report the violations to international bodies. The HNC spokesman Salim Al-Muslet said that the committee is in the process of “sending a formal letter of complaint” about the violations that are taking place on the ground by forces of the regime and Russian troops. The letter will be sent to the UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura, the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon and the foreign ministers of countries that support Syria.