Russia’s Foreign Ministry has urged Ankara to evaluate its military strategy, warning the country that its actions could “further complicate an already challenging military and political situation in Syria”. But Kerry warned if the plan was a “ruse” to empty the Aleppo for the Syrian army to target opposition forces as they leave and then seize the city, it would risked “completely breaking apart” any hope of cooperation.
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The White Helmets have lost over 137 personnel in the line of duty, many in “double tap” attacks, where warplanes strike targets twice to maximize casualties as crowds gather.
Boris Johnson, Britain’s foreign secretary, who hosted the HNC talks in London, said there was “still a chance” the opposition’s proposal “can be made to work”.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his U.S. counterpart John Kerry, whose countries back opposing sides in the brutal civil war, were reportedly due to meet in Geneva on Thursday to try to reach a deal on cooperation in Syria.
In London on Wednesday, the under-fire Syria opposition fleshed out a proposal for a transition to democracy without Assad after a six-month negotiating phase with the regime.
“If the Russians and Americans can together create a ceasefire, then the talks can restart in Geneva with the difference, perhaps, that all sides will by then have seen at least the scaffolding of a post-Assad Syria”.
On Wednesday’s “Morning Joe” on MSNBC, Chairman Bob Corker of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said that it “concerns him” that the Obama administration still has “four or five months” remaining to allow Syria to “devolve” into further chaos.
The High Negotiation Committee, Syria’s main opposition bloc, on Wednesday will present a peace plan in which embattled President Bashar al-Assad would be required to step down during a transitional period starting after six months.
The initiative presented by the High Negotiations Committee [HNC], an umbrella of opposition groups backed by western powers and Gulf states, was released as the U.S. and Russian Federation struggled to agree on a deal meant to bring about a ceasefire. The goal is to develop a signed agreement on the “basic principles” of the transition process.
“The vision is based on the Geneva Communique of 2012 and relevant United Nations resolutions, which stress the departure of Bashar al-Assad and his clique”, the HNC said in a statement. Under the plan being discussed, an “implementation cell” would house USA and Russian military planners together, sharing intelligence, maps and targeting information.
Syria’s criticism of Mr Johnson comes after the world’s chemical weapons watchdog announced that it would investigate suspected use of chlorine gas in Aleppo, north Syria. “No”, HNC head Riad Hijab said. Activists in the city said one person died after bombs were dropped from government helicopters.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he had agreed with Obama to do “what is necessary” to drive IS out of Raqa.
But their last meeting was only on Monday and this trip will just be the latest in a series to Moscow, Vienna and Geneva since Russia’s military intervened in Syria a year ago.
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“There is a possibility of arriving at an understanding over the next 24 hours or so”, he said. It says a shortage of shelter space means many displaced families are sleeping outdoors in parks. Ultraconservative Islamic insurgents last week advanced in Hama, prompting fierce clashes with government forces.
