ISIS update 1/20/2017..Russia sees positive signs in Syria peace process

Russia sees positive signs in Syria peace process

Russia Invites Incoming Trump Administration To Syria Peace Talks After Snubbing Obama

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-01-19/after-snubbing-obama-russia-invites-incoming-trump-administration-syria-peace-talks

Three weeks after John Kerry’s State Department was humiliated one last time when Russia, Turkey and Syria sat down alone, demonstratively without inviting the US, to discuss the terms of a proposed Syrian ceasefire, Russia has already offered a diplomatic fig leaf to the incoming Trump administration when Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the press Russia has invited the United States to take part in the upcoming talks on Syria, “As I said yesterday, we have already invited the US,” Lavrov told journalists in Moscow on Thursday. And since the meeting on the Syrian settlement is scheduled to take place in the Kazakh capital of Astana on January 23, three days after Trump takes over, the implication is clear: the invite is for the Trump administration only. Lavrov confirmed:

“We think it would be the right thing to invite the representatives of the UN and the new US administration to the meeting,” Lavrov had said on Wednesday, at a press conference summing up the results of Russian foreign policy in 2016. Quoted by RT, a spokesman for UN Secretary-General Farhan Haq told RIA Novosti on Wednesday that the UN “has received an invitation to take part” and will attend. He added that the UN representatives will “try to give maximum support” to the negotiations. UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura has also been invited to the talks, though his humanitarian advisor, Jan Egeland, said on Thursday the UN’s role at the talks was still under discussion. “I do however take it for granted that Russia, Turkey, Iran, will understand the immense responsibility they take upon themselves as guarantors of an agreement of another process to enable a new beginning for the civilian population of Syria,” Egeland told reporters in Geneva.

Syrian President Bashar Assad has said the peace talks in Astana will focus on achieving a ceasefire and allowing rebel groups to reach “reconciliation” deals with the government. “So far, we believe that Astana will be about talks with terrorist groups over a ceasefire and allowing them to reach reconciliation deals,” Assad said in an interview with Japanese media outlet TBS, parts of which were published on the president’s Twitter feed on Thursday.

Russia’s own delegation to the talks in Astana will include representatives of the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov revealed on Thursday. He also noted that Russia supports the possible expansion of the Syrian opposition delegation to the negotiations opposition delegation to the negotiations, which currently represents 14 militant groups. “The total number of groups that are represented by their leaders is only 14. This means that 14 groups have joined the ceasefire agreement, but we advocate for more to join,” Bogdanov said, as cited by RIA Novosti. A number of Syrian rebel groups indeed confirmed that they will attend the peace talks in Astana. A leader of Jaysh al-Islam, Mohammed Alloush, said he would head the rebel delegation and work to end the “crimes” of the government and its allies.

“All the rebel groups are going. Everyone has agreed,” Alloush told AFP news agency on Monday. The High Negotiations Committee, Syria’s main opposition bloc, last week also stated that it would support the delegation attending the talks.However, the pro-opposition Shaam News Network reported earlier this week that several other rebel groups, including Ahrar al-Sham, one of the main fighting forces on the ground, plan to boycott the talks over the army’s offensive on the village of Wadi Barada. We have no doubt that should Trump’s new SecState, Rex Tillerson, be present, all the rebel groups will likewise be there, and a definitive peace treaty will emerge, especially if the US is no longer directly arming Assad’s opponents.

But more importantly, Monday’s meeting will be a good first test to gauge Trump’s resolve, at least when it comes to his foreign policy commitment: having stated previously that he is against the continuation of the Syrian war and is for a return of peace, should Trump snub the invite, it will be a strong first hint that the US military-industrial complex is still pulling the strings on yet another administration. Turkey And Russia Join Forces Against ISIS

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Deir Ezzur: Syrian Army Enters Cemetery Area, Russia Hits ISIL’s Military Positions with Iskander Missiles

The Syrian army entered the cemetery region in Deir Ezzur as Russia’s Iskander missiles hit the ISIL terrorist group’s military positions in different parts of the city.

The army units are now in the cemetery region in the Southwestern part of Deir Ezzur city and have seized control over a part of the strategic territory.

Meantime, the Russian army’s Iskander missiles pounded and destroyed the ISIL terrorists’ military positions in different parts of Deir Ezzur city.

Meantime, the Russian and Syrian warplanes intensified their air raids on ISIL’s supply lines in Deir Ezzur and killed tens of militants in their raids.

In a relevant development earlier on Friday, the Syrian army backed by the country’s air force kicked off massive military operations against the ISIL terrorist group from the direction of Deir Ezzur cemetery to reopen a road located between the city and the nearby airbase.

Heavy clashes are underway between the Syrian army and the ISIL terrorist group in the surrounding areas of Deir Ezzur military airport, Panorama and around Brigade 137.

The air force has also hit the ISIL’s military positions in over 50 sorties.

Initial reports said the ISIL terrorists sustained heavy losses in the Syrian airstrikes.

In a relevant development on Thursday, the army troops started devastating attacks on ISIL in and around the Eastern city of Deir Ezzur after several days of defense, and won back several positions from the terrorists, a Syrian army general declared.

Major General Hassan Mohammad said that the army soldiers have started attacking ISIL’s concentration centers and have recaptured several positions in Deir Ezzur after fending off several ISIL offensives in the last few days.

He further added that the al-Ta’amin Brigade Base that lies close to Deir Ezzur Airbase has been brought back under the army control and soldiers are now engaged in fierce clashes with ISIL to seize back control over the nearby power station.

Hassan Mohammad went on to say that security has also been established at the housing district, known as the University Residential Area, and Tal (hill) Barouk after the army managed to repel ISIL’s numerous assaults on the two regions.

“Russian and Syrian warplanes are pounding ISIL’s gatherings and movements in the battlefields, inflicting major many casualties on the terrorists,” he added.

The Syrian general further pointed out that military helicopters are also flying over Deir Ezzur to strike at ISIL militants and deliver aid to the airbase.

Reports said earlier on Thursday that entire members of a group of ISIL terrorists were killed in an unprecedented attack by unknown assailants on their base in Deir Ezzur.

A media source disclosed that several unknown assailants have stormed one of an ISIL position in the village of Hatleh.

The attackers first made all the 9 members of the group unconscious and then killed them.

The source said that popular forces and some of the secret groups have revolted against ISIL after the terrorist group executed and beheaded civilians.

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