De-escalation zones in Syria led to successful anti-terror campaign against IS
ET Bureau|
Updated: Sep 27, 2017, 08.39 AM IST
NEW DELHI: The creation of de-escalation zones in Syria have allowed intensifying counter-terror campaign in the West Asian country dealing a severe blow to the Islamic State.
The four de-escalation zones – in Eastern Ghouta, in the Damascus governorate, Idlib in the north, Homs in the east, and in southern Syria – were agreed upon during Astana talks in May. The proposal to establish the zones was signed by Russia, Iran and Turkey, with the approval of the Syrian government. The UN has welcomed the initiative.
De-escalation zones include Idlib province, some parts of its neighbouring areas in Latakia, Hama and Aleppo provinces north of the city of Homs, Eastern Ghouta, as well as Daraa and al-Quneitra provinces in southern Syria. From May 6, military activities and aircraft flights in the de-escalation zones are banned.
Russia and Turkey are working on finalizing the implementation of the Idlib de-escalation zone. Turkey, Russia and Iran are also working on setting up a new de-escalation zone - in Syria’s Afrin, the Anadolu news agency quoted Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim as saying on Monday.
Last month during a meeting with his Lebanese counterpart Yacoub Riad Sarraf near Moscow Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu discussed de-escalation zones and praised the efforts of the Lebanese army to eradicate Islamic State and the Al-Nusra front in areas along the Lebanon-Syria border. In August the Lebanese army launched the third phase of the ongoing operation, targeting IS-held areas alongside the border.
“Both we and you understand that the terrorist flow from one country to another cannot go on perpetually,” Shoigu reportedly told Sarraf. Shoigu then gave the example of the situation in Syria, arguing that the separation of the terrorists from opposition allowed to “de-facto end” the civil war there, allowing a focus on the fight against terrorism.
According to Russian Defence Ministry, a “substantial decrease in the levels of violence has been observed after the implementation of the three de-escalation zones.”
Last week Syria’s foreign minister said that victory was within reach in the country and that Damascus hoped de-escalation zones will help reach a cessation of hostilities. “The liberation of Aleppo and Palmyra, the lifting of the siege of Deir Ezzor and the eradication of terrorism from many parts of Syria prove that victory is now within reach,” Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem said in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly.
The four de-escalation zones – in Eastern Ghouta, in the Damascus governorate, Idlib in the north, Homs in the east, and in southern Syria – were agreed upon during Astana talks in May. The proposal to establish the zones was signed by Russia, Iran and Turkey, with the approval of the Syrian government. The UN has welcomed the initiative.
De-escalation zones include Idlib province, some parts of its neighbouring areas in Latakia, Hama and Aleppo provinces north of the city of Homs, Eastern Ghouta, as well as Daraa and al-Quneitra provinces in southern Syria. From May 6, military activities and aircraft flights in the de-escalation zones are banned.
Russia and Turkey are working on finalizing the implementation of the Idlib de-escalation zone. Turkey, Russia and Iran are also working on setting up a new de-escalation zone - in Syria’s Afrin, the Anadolu news agency quoted Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim as saying on Monday.
Last month during a meeting with his Lebanese counterpart Yacoub Riad Sarraf near Moscow Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu discussed de-escalation zones and praised the efforts of the Lebanese army to eradicate Islamic State and the Al-Nusra front in areas along the Lebanon-Syria border. In August the Lebanese army launched the third phase of the ongoing operation, targeting IS-held areas alongside the border.
“Both we and you understand that the terrorist flow from one country to another cannot go on perpetually,” Shoigu reportedly told Sarraf. Shoigu then gave the example of the situation in Syria, arguing that the separation of the terrorists from opposition allowed to “de-facto end” the civil war there, allowing a focus on the fight against terrorism.
According to Russian Defence Ministry, a “substantial decrease in the levels of violence has been observed after the implementation of the three de-escalation zones.”
Last week Syria’s foreign minister said that victory was within reach in the country and that Damascus hoped de-escalation zones will help reach a cessation of hostilities. “The liberation of Aleppo and Palmyra, the lifting of the siege of Deir Ezzor and the eradication of terrorism from many parts of Syria prove that victory is now within reach,” Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem said in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly.
