PHOTO: US Secretary of State John Kerry meeting Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir in Riyadh on Saturday (AP)

LATEST

Jump to Original Entry

UPDATE 2000 GMT: A “high-level source in the Syrian opposition” has accused US Secretary of State John Kerry of giving the opposition-rebel bloc an ultimatum: join negotiations next week or face a cut-off of support.

According to the London-based al-Araby, Kerry delivered the message in a meeting with the coordinator of the opposition-rebel team, former Prime Minister Riad Hijab, in Riyadh on Saturday.

The source said the discussion was “catastrophic and very bad”, as “Kerry carried the Russian and Iranian messages” about the international gathering planned for Geneva.

The opposition-rebel bloc, named in Saudi Arabia last week, has said that it will not begin talks until there are halts to Russian and regime bombing, release of detainees from regime prisons, and access to humanitarian aid for besieged areas.

The source said Kerry asserted that the conditions should be part of the Geneva discussions, and that the Secretary of State supported modification of the opposition-rebel delegation by UN envoy Staffan de Mistura.

Russia has objected to the 33-member opposition-rebel team, putting up an alternative list of 15 names including politicians close to Moscow and Kurdish representatives.

According to the source, Kerry distanced himself from pressure on the Assad regime, saying, that “his country will not interfere in Syria, but will only fight terrorism and nothing else”.

However, a former President of the Syrian National Coalition and member of the opposition-rebel team advised caution over the report, as he said a final decision on the talks would be made on Tuesday:

Meanwhile, the Assad regime indicated that it will make no concessions in any talks and repeated its objections to the opposition-rebel team.

“We are not going to give today what we did not give over the past five years,” said senior Baath Party official Hilal al-Hilal late Saturday. “This year will be the year of victory for Syria because of the heroic acts and sacrifices by its army and people.”

Regime newspaper Tishrin, said in an editorial on Sunday that the Geneva talks should not include “representatives for the agendas terrorist-supporting countries that seek a seat for terrorism at the dialogue table”.

The reference was to Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar, all of whom back the opposition-rebel bloc.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Russia and the US are close to a compromise to ensure Syria’s “peace talks” start next week, according to three unnamed “Western and United Nations diplomats”.

In an attempt to resolve a dispute between the opposition-rebel bloc and Russia, two separate opposition delegations will be invited to the negotiations in Geneva.

Russia has objected to the 33-member opposition-rebel negotiating team named last month, saying that factions such as the rebels of Jaish al-Islam must be excluded as “terrorists”. Moscow has proposed an alternative list of 15 names, including Syrian politicians close to Russia and Kurdish representatives such Saleh Muslim, head of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD).

Under the compromise, Russia will not block Jaish al-Islam in return for an invitation to its preferred delegation. Russian analyst Yuri Barmin said he also has support for the claim:

Responding to the claim, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said she had no information yet about which opposition delegates will attend the talks in Geneva. A spokeswoman for UN envoy Staffan de Mistura, Jessy Chahine, said a press briefing will be held on Monday to provide more details.

Speaking to reporters in Riyadh, where he was meeting Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir — a key backer of the opposition and rebels — Kerry said the Syria Support Group of the UN and 20 countries would convene negotiations “very shortly”: “We are confident that with good initiative in the next day or so, those talks can get going.”

Kerry also conferred with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov by phone on Saturday. “Particular attention was given to the need to form a genuinely representative opposition delegation,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The Secretary of State said he would now speak with Riad Hijab, the coordinator of the opposition-rebel team.

Video: Ongoing Fighting in Sheikh Miskeen, South of Damascus

State TV footage of ongoing fighting in Sheikh Miskeen, south of Damascus and hear the Damascus-to-Jordan highway:

Regime forces launched an offensive last month to reclaim the town. They soon occupied much of it, but have been unable to establish full control.

Syria Daily, Dec 30: Regime Advances South of Damascus

Syrian Military Claim Capture of Another Town in Latakia Province

The Syrian military has claimed the capture of another town in its advance in northern Latakia Province in western Syria.

The army said on Sunday that control has been established over Rabia, following occupation of a series of villages on Friday. The Free Syrian Army’s 1st Coastal Division confirmed the withdrawal by rebels.

Photos of troops in Rabia:

RABIA 1

RABIA 2

Supported by intensive Russian airstrikes, the regime offensive began in Latakia in October. Advances were limited in the first two months; however, the effect of the Russian attacks — and of rebels moving forces from Latakia to the front south of Aleppo city — weakened defenses.

Ten days ago, regime troops moved into Salma, the mountain town which is the gateway to Hama Province.

An attack by Russian multiple-rocket launchers in the Turkmen Mountains near Rabia:

Claim: Assad Regime Supplies Kurdish Forces in Afrin in Northwest Syria

Citing a “reliable source”, the opposition Local Coordination Committees claim that two cargo helicopters of the Syrian military have supplied weapons and ammunition to Kurdish forces near Afrin, in Aleppo Province in northwest Syria.

The LCC said the delivery in Rajou, northwest of Afrin, followed a January 19 meeting between the Syrian military and leaders of Kurdish units.

Opposition groups and rebels claim the Kurds have attacked opposition territory in Aleppo Province, hoping to unite the Afrin canton with the two other Kurdish cantons in northern Syria.

Kurdish groups say they are defending themselves against rebel attacks on Afrin.

The LCC also say, from “reliable sources”, that Syrian military aircraft delivered ammunition, regime forces, and Kurdish units to the new Russian position on an airbase in Qamishli in northeast Syria.

The LCC asserted that another 50 Russian troops arrived to support the first group of 100 Russians who deployed on the base on January 18.

Amid Russian Airstrikes, 100+ Killed For 2nd Day in Row

Opposition activists have documented the deaths of more than 100 civilians across Syria for the second day in a row.

The Local Coordination Committees reported confirmation of 103 deaths on Saturday including 12 children and three women.

The LCC said 43 people were killed in Deir ez-Zor Province in northeastern Syria, bringing the total amid Russian airstrikes to more than 100 in less than 48 hours. Most of Saturday’s casualties were in a marketplace in the village of ‎Khasham‬.

Another 18 people died in ‪‎Aleppo‬ Province, 18 in ‪‎Damascus and its suburbs‬, and 15 in ‪‎Daraa‬ Province.

See also Syria Feature: 142 Killed on Friday Amid Russian and US Airstrikes