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In Syria, Airstrikes Continue as Truce Nears In Syria, Airstrikes Continue as Truce Nears
(about 1 hour later)
The United States and its allies conducted airstrikes against Islamic militants in Syria on Friday, and Russia said it would continue hitting “terrorists organizations” there, hours before a provisional cease-fire was scheduled to take effect at midnight. The United States and its allies conducted airstrikes against Islamic militants in Syria on Friday, and Russia said it would continue hitting “terrorist organizations” there, hours before a provisional cease-fire was scheduled to take effect at midnight.
The partial truce, negotiated by the United States and Russia, has been accepted by the Syrian government and main opposition groups, but it does not include extremist groups like the Islamic State or the Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front.The partial truce, negotiated by the United States and Russia, has been accepted by the Syrian government and main opposition groups, but it does not include extremist groups like the Islamic State or the Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front.
The Nusra Front said Friday that it rejected the cessation of hostilities and urged insurgents to intensify their attacks against government forces and their allies, Reuters reported.The Nusra Front said Friday that it rejected the cessation of hostilities and urged insurgents to intensify their attacks against government forces and their allies, Reuters reported.
President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia said again Friday that his military intended to go on conducting airstrikes against “terrorist organizations” in Syria. Mr. Putin said at a meeting of top officials of the Federal Security Service on Friday that “the decisive fight against them will certainly continue,” The Associated Press reported, citing the Russian news agency Tass.President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia said again Friday that his military intended to go on conducting airstrikes against “terrorist organizations” in Syria. Mr. Putin said at a meeting of top officials of the Federal Security Service on Friday that “the decisive fight against them will certainly continue,” The Associated Press reported, citing the Russian news agency Tass.
Russia and the Syrian government say that the Russian airstrikes that began in late September are directed solely at terrorists and at forces affiliated with terrorist groups. Some opposition groups inside Syria and international critics say that definition has been stretched to include other rebel groups, some of them backed by the United States, that have fought against the forces of Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad, a longtime Moscow ally.Russia and the Syrian government say that the Russian airstrikes that began in late September are directed solely at terrorists and at forces affiliated with terrorist groups. Some opposition groups inside Syria and international critics say that definition has been stretched to include other rebel groups, some of them backed by the United States, that have fought against the forces of Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad, a longtime Moscow ally.
Mr. Putin defended Russia’s efforts, saying that the United States should be aware that Islamic militants may be embedded with opposition groups, and “that nobody will forget that there are other terrorist organizations apart from Islamic State.”Mr. Putin defended Russia’s efforts, saying that the United States should be aware that Islamic militants may be embedded with opposition groups, and “that nobody will forget that there are other terrorist organizations apart from Islamic State.”
The United States and its allies staged 30 strikes against militants of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria on Thursday, Reuters reported from Washington, citing a statement issued by the coalition on Friday.The United States and its allies staged 30 strikes against militants of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria on Thursday, Reuters reported from Washington, citing a statement issued by the coalition on Friday.
Fourteen of the strikes were in Syria, including eight near al-Hawl, where five tactical units were hit and seven vehicles were destroyed, along with a staging area and a mortar position, the statement said. Fourteen of the strikes were in Syria, including eight near Al Hawl, where five tactical units were hit and seven vehicles were destroyed, along with a staging area and a mortar position, the statement said.
The 16 attacks in Iraq including four near Kisik that hit two tactical units, the statement said.
Fighting raged Friday on several fronts in Syria as combatants sought to gain advantage before the cease-fire.Fighting raged Friday on several fronts in Syria as combatants sought to gain advantage before the cease-fire.
Dozens of barrel bombs and other munitions fell on the suburbs of Damascus, Syria’s capital. Rebels there said that the suburb of Daraya is a bastion of insurgents who are not affiliated with either the Nusra Front or the Islamic State, but the Syrian government said Daraya was not covered under any truce.Dozens of barrel bombs and other munitions fell on the suburbs of Damascus, Syria’s capital. Rebels there said that the suburb of Daraya is a bastion of insurgents who are not affiliated with either the Nusra Front or the Islamic State, but the Syrian government said Daraya was not covered under any truce.
Leaders of rebel groups who oppose the Assad government have said that if their forces are hit by the Russians and Syrians, even by an attack meant to target extremists, they will retaliate.Leaders of rebel groups who oppose the Assad government have said that if their forces are hit by the Russians and Syrians, even by an attack meant to target extremists, they will retaliate.
Some rebel leaders have said that American officials have warned them to separate themselves from positions held by fighters from the Nusra Front, or risk becoming targets. On Friday, before the cease-fire, there were reports of Nusra Front fighters moving away from civilian areas in parts of northern Syria, but those reports could not be independently confirmed.Some rebel leaders have said that American officials have warned them to separate themselves from positions held by fighters from the Nusra Front, or risk becoming targets. On Friday, before the cease-fire, there were reports of Nusra Front fighters moving away from civilian areas in parts of northern Syria, but those reports could not be independently confirmed.
The conditional plan to cease hostilities by midnight in Syria appeared farther off Friday than the clock indicated, and it was not clear who would stop shooting at whom or for how long.The conditional plan to cease hostilities by midnight in Syria appeared farther off Friday than the clock indicated, and it was not clear who would stop shooting at whom or for how long.
In a statement on Friday, the High Negotiations Committee, an umbrella organization for opposition groups, said it would agree to a two-week truce. The committee’s statement also said that the government and its allies should not be allowed to exploit the truce “by continuing hostilities against moderate opposition factions under the excuse of fighting terrorism.”
The United Nations envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, is scheduled to brief the Security Council later Friday when the cessation of hostilities is to begin. The Council is expected to adopt a resolution endorsing the truce and urging Mr. de Mistura to resume talks among the warring Syrian parties to find a political solution to the war.
The draft resolution also urges countries with interests in Syria, including the United States and Russia, “to use their influence with the parties to the cessation of hostilities to ensure fulfillment of those commitments and to support efforts to create conditions for a durable and lasting cease-fire.”
It does not say anything about an end to airstrikes conducted by Russia that have helped Syrian forces reclaim strategic areas, including sections of land along the Syrian border with Turkey.
Turkey is in its own fight with Syrian Kurdish groups in the border region, including the Y.P.G., which is supported by the United States. A spokesman for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey said on Friday that the government had doubts about the truce’s viability.
“We support this cease-fire in principle, but unfortunately we have serious concerns about the future of this cease-fire as the fighting goes on,” said the spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin.
Turkey has said it will not stop fighting the Syrian Kurdish militias, and the Kurds have said they have a right to defend themselves.
The truce agreement is intended to stop the fighting in most areas long enough for aid to reach besieged civilians, and for the United Nations-mediated political talks to resume.