PHOTO: Secretary of State Kerry — “Russian plan has the risk, if it is a ruse, of breaking cooperation”

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UPDATE 0945 GMT: While promoting its “humanitarian” initiative, Russia has continued bombing across northwest Syria.

The Local Coordination Committees documented 31 deaths in Aleppo Province on Friday, most of them in Russian-regime airstrikes on Atareb, west of Aleppo city.

This morning Russian and regime warplanes have attacked areas such as Hayan, Kafr Hamra, Darat Izza, and Khan Tuman in Aleppo Province and Saraqeb in Idlib Province, including the use of vacuum missiles and cluster bombs, according to the LCC.

Opposition activists and site said 10 civilians, including children, were killed in the town of Abeen in western Aleppo Province, while another attack killed another seven in Kafrnaha.

The aftermath of the strike on Kafrnaha:

The attack on Abeen:

ORIGINAL ENTRY: US Secretary of State John Kerry has issued a cautious statement about Russia’s “humanitarian” declaration over besieged opposition areas of Syria’s largest city Aleppo.

Kerry said on Friday that a Russian suggestion of “corridors” for civilians and disarmed rebels to flee to regime-controlled territory “could be a ruse”, but also that it “could have possibilities”.

On Thursday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu responding to the concerns, of UN officials and humanitarian organizations, that up to 400,000 people face a siege after pro-Assad forces cut the last road into opposition districts of Aleppo. He said residents could leave and rebels could surrender, as the Syrian military dropped leaflets over the area.

Activists say that Russia could be trying to “de-populate” the area in preparation for an all-out ground and aerial assault. They also note that previous initiatives — for example, in Syria’s third-largest city Homs — have led to the disappearance of men who have taken up the offer to leave.

The US and UN officials said on Thursday that they were not consulted about the Russian statement.

Risk and Possibilities

Asked about the Russian operation on Friday, Kerry said:

It has the risk, if it is a ruse, of completely breaking apart the level of cooperation.

On the other hand, if we’re able to work it out today and have a complete understanding of what is happening and then agreement on the way forward, it could actually open up some possibilities.

The Secretary of State said he had spoken with Moscow twice in the past 24 hours to try to clarify Russian intentions.

State Department spokesman John Kirby later stepped back from Kerry’s “possibilities”:

There should be no need for them if the cessation of hostilities is being enforced and observed in and around Aleppo. People should not have to be told to leave or given the impression that there is some sort of forced evacuation. They should be able to stay in their homes peacefully because they’re not at risk by regime forces.

The White House also voiced doubts. “Given their record on this, we’re skeptical, to say the least,” spokesman Eric Schultz said at a news briefing.

The UN envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said there was “urgent need for improvement” in the plan, but that Moscow appeared to be open to suggestions.

A Propaganda Stunt?

Russian and Syrian State media are proclaiming that the corridors have been established with reception centers, providing food and medical care. They add the claim that rebels are preventing civilians from leaving — a line which has been used in other cases such as Homs and the town of Madaya, northwest of Damascus.

The Syrian military declared this morning that 75 families have been “transferred” from opposition districts to regime-controlled areas in western Aleppo city.

Local activists and journalists note that the supposed safe “corridors” do not yet exist.

Ghaith Yaqout al-Murjan, an activist in Aleppo, explained:

[But] you are talking about the need to walk a kilometer in a battle where you are at risk of being hit from two sides.

The pro-opposition Eldorar said two young men have already been shot and killed as they tried to reach the supposed humanitarian crossings.

Meanwhile, the opposition High Negotiations Committee warned of the de-population plan. Basma Kodmani said:

The world must not allow Russia to get away with disguising its assault on Aleppo with deceitful talk about humanitarian ‘corridors.’ Be clear — these “corridors” are not for getting aid in, but driving people out. The brutal message to our people is “leave or starve.

US officials add support for the concern that the Assad regime is seeking to detain or even execute the men of the area, “as Assad and his father have done repeatedly at least since 1982”.

“Why would you evacuate a city that you wanted to send humanitarian aid to?” asked an official.

German Foreign Minister Franz-Walter Steinmeier also took a tough, sceptical line, “Russia shoulders particularly great responsibility in this difficult situation on account of its support for the Syrian army and air force.”

Steinmeier urged Moscow to “implement a ceasefire” and work with the UN to facilitate “humanitarian access” to opposition districts in Aleppo city: “Exercising military restraint and allowing humanitarian aid to reach people trapped in besieged areas are what is needed right now. We need there to be an end to violence and a return to the negotiating table.”

Rebels Claim They Checked Pro-Assad Advance in East Ghouta

The rebel faction Jaish al-Islam claims that it checked the pro-Assad advance in the East Ghouta area near Damascus.

In an e-mailed statement, Jaish al-Islam said it blocked attacks by the Syrian military and allied militia on the axis between the towns of Hawsh al-Fara and Maydaa: “Many of Assad’s soldiers are dead, and two T72 tanks are destroyed.”

The pro-Assad forces have taken much of the southern part of East Ghouta since May. Earlier this week the Syrian military claimed control of Hawsh al-Fara.

Opposition and Rebels Welcome Jabhat al-Nusra Separation from Al-Qa’eda

Leading opposition and rebel groups have welcomed the announcement by Jabhat al-Nusra that it is separating from Al-Qa’eda for “the continuity of the jihad in Syria”.

The opposition High Negotiations Committee said further steps are needed “to correct…the mistakes of the past period and achieve integration with the real national project”.

The Muslim Brotherhood also gave its support to “a first step towards a local revolution and its objectives”, and prominent rebel faction Ahrar al-Sham said all revolutionary factions should now pursue unity.

Nusra leader Abu Mohammad al-Joulani announced on Thursday that the group is renaming itself “Jabhat Fatah al-Sham” and will seek a “unified body” with rebel factions to bring together “the masses of the people, liberating their lands, giving victory to their faith, and upholding their testimony of faith”.

See Syria Daily, June 29: Jabhat al-Nusra’s Local Power Play
Syria Video: In 1st Public Appearance, Nusra’s al-Joulani Announces Separation from Al-Qa’eda
Syria Feature: Al-Qa’eda OKs Jabhat al-Nusra Separation

Jaish al-Islam, the leading rebel faction near Damascus, also welcomed the Nusra move but said JFS needed to do more for acceptance by the opposition and rebels. In an e-mailed statement, Captain Islam Alloush wrote:

Needless to say that the disengagement of Jabhat al-Nusra from al-Qaeda is in the interest of the Syrian people and their revolution. It contributes in the protection of their lives.

Our national revolution is to liberate people oppressed by the criminal sectarian regime in Syria. Therefore, any organizational link with any global organization would hinder achieving the goals of the Syrian people’s revolution. Such link would make Syrians responsible for the faults and errors of these global organizations. However, this step from Jabhat al-Nusra is not enough to get it closer to the Syrian people.

The unification of the Syrian resistance is a military requirement for achieving victory against the enemies of the Syrian people who demanded this unification since the beginning of their revolution. Unfortunately, many internal and external obstacles stand against this unification at all levels.

I do not think that the disengagement of Jabhat al-Nusra from al-Qaeda will have an effect on the military ideology of the [Jabhat]22212 Fatah al-Sham fighters. We will be waiting and watching the behavior of the new formation with its new name in order for us to pass a fair judgment.