Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

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Participants of Syria peace talks attend a meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan March 15, 2017. REUTERS/Mukhtar Kholdorbekov

Syrian Opposition Convenes Ahead of New Round of Geneva Talks

by Caroline Akoum | Mar 17, 2017 | Middle East

Beirut – Following the failure of Astana 3 negotiations, attention is shifted towards the upcoming round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, which will be held on March 23. UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura condemned deadly suicide bomb attacks in Damascus on...

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Participants of Syria peace talks attend a meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan March 15, 2017. REUTERS/Mukhtar Kholdorbekov

Astana 3 Talks on Syria Flop … Iran a Guarantor

by Caroline Akoum, Paula Astih | Mar 16, 2017 | Middle East

Beirut-The “Astana 3” intra-Syrian talks held for two days in the Kazakh capital ended with no progress on Wednesday. A statement first announced that the meetings will conclude on Wednesday morning, but later Russian officials asserted that the talks would be...

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Children in Aleppo/AFP

ISIS Seeking to Transform Deir Ezzor into Alternative Jihadist ‘Capital’

by Paula Astih | Mar 15, 2017 | Middle East

Beirut, Moscow- ISIS is currently busy preparing for two intertwined battles inside Syria. The first is anticipated to take place in its self-proclaimed Syrian capital of Raqqa ahead of the expected offensive of US-allied Syrian forces in the upcoming weeks. The...

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Children walk near a parked ambulance in al-Rai town in Aleppo, Syria. (Reuters)

Absence of Syrian Factions Threatens ‘Astana 3’

by Taha Abdul Wahed and Asharq Al Awsat | Mar 14, 2017 | Middle East

Moscow, London – As the Kazakh foreign ministry placed the final touches to host the third round of the intra-Syrian talks expected to kick off on Tuesday in Astana, the Syrian opposition announced its decision not to attend the meeting. The opposition’s choice...

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An Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighter walks with his weapon in northern Raqqa province, Syria February 6, 2017. REUTERS/Rodi Said

Syrian Factions Link Attending ‘Astana’ to Ceasefire, Resettlement Plan

by Caroline Akoum | Mar 12, 2017 | Middle East

Beirut – Syria’s opposition factions linked their participation in the Astana intra-Syrian talks next March 14-15 to the implementation of a full ceasefire in opposition-controlled areas. The factions refused to consider the “ceasefire” item as a pre-condition...