Assad: Terrorists Must Not Exploit Syria Truce

Throughout the five-year-old war, Damascus has routinely referred to all insurgents fighting the government and its allies as terrorists.

The announcement came as fighting continued on the ground despite a Friday deadline for cessation of hostilities.

Syria’s embattled leader is ready for a ceasefire – with a catch. With Russia’s help, Assad’s forces have almost surrounded Aleppo, Syria’s largest city and the rebels’ most important base.

In a telephone call Saturday, US.

It did not name Turkey but it was clearly aimed at the Turkish government, which has threatened ground action and is continuing a cross-border artillery shelling campaign against U.S.-backed Kurdish militia positions in Syria.

Kerry said he spoke in the morning with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss terms of a ceasefire and the two now must reach out to the parties in the conflict.

Although the details “are not yet fully agreed upon”, Kerry had expressed his hope that a full cessation of hostilities could be achieved in the shortest timeframe possible, Kirby said.

“The question is, ‘Is this real progress in a political negotiation?’ or, ‘Is this merely rhetorical progress?’ and I would of course argue the latter”, Draitser said.

President Bashar Al Assad says he wants to be remembered 10 years from now as the person who saved Syria, according to an interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais published on Saturday.

The spokesman for Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov, said: “Russia is sticking to its consistent policy of rendering assistance and aid to the armed forces of Syria in their offensive actions against terrorists and against terrorist organizations”.

The tide has turned since Russian Federation entered the fray in September with its war planes carrying out fierce attacks against ISIS and reportedly against the rebel groups that seek the end of the Bashar Al-Assad regime. Until now, President Barack Obama has rejected the safe-zone concept, which would require troops on the ground and protection from the air.

“They have to deal with this very delicately or they are going to end up with a civil war [among rebel groups] in Idlib on their hands”, the source said.

“This is a decision that the worldwide coalition will have to make”. And it is illegal for a citizen of Saudi Arabia to be a Christian.

But the text failed to garner support from key council members with at least six countries including veto-wielding France and the U.S. rejecting it outright during a closed-door meeting on Friday, diplomats said.

“We can only express our regret that this draft resolution was not supported”, he said.

“The first… is terrorism, because not only do the terrorists threaten civilians, but also deprive them of basic livelihood”.

The main Kurdish group in Syria has denied firing at Turkey from Syria. A bombing in Ankara that targeted a military convoy last Wednesday killed 28 and injured 61 and was immediately blamed on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Syria Democratic Forces walk in an area they have taken control of from Islamic State fighters in Hasaka countryside, Syria, Feb. 19, 2016.

The advance extended their control of parts of a road running towards the jihadist group’s stronghold of Raqqa, and built on gains made in assaults that intensified sharply earlier this month.