Syrians Have Differing Views on Truce
DAMASCUS (Tasnim) – A ceasefire in Syria that took effect on Saturday has its own supporters and opponents, with some describing it as breathing room for the terrorist groups active in the war-torn Arab state.
Syria’s ceasefire entered its third day on Monday with reports of scattered airstrikes and bombings, but overall the slowdown in fighting appears to be holding.
A cessation of fighting in Syria that took effect on Saturday, regarded as the most successful effort yet to reduce the bloodshed in the five-year civil war, was part of a negotiated deal, based on the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254, passed in December 2015.
The deal that contained three main commitments around humanitarian access, a negotiated ceasefire and a political transition was reached in Munich by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), a group of international actors mandated to find a resolution to the Syrian conflict.
With the coming into force of the ceasefire, Syrians in capital Damascus hold different views about the truce.
Elias al-Homsi, a middle-aged Syrian man, told the Tasnim News Agency that he is against the ceasefire, stressing that the Syrian Army should have kept making advances in the fight against the terrorist groups.
“We do not need a ceasefire, because the Army has control of the situation and gains the upper-hand,” he added, saying the purpose of the truce was to provide an opportunity for the armed groups to refresh themselves.
Another interviewee, Muhammad al-Ahamd, approved of the truce, saying it gives way for the humanitarian aid efforts.
And Amer Mansour, a university student, said all Syrians are naturally in favor of a ceasefire and end to the war, but those seeking to destroy Syria have no place among the people.
In theory, the ceasefire should apply to all of Syria. However, Russia has insisted that, along with its allied forces, it reserve the right to attack the Daesh (ISIL) group and al-Nusra Front forces as these two groups are outside the framework of the ceasefire, as are other groups labelled as “terrorist” by the UN.
The Russian coordinating unit in Syria said there had been nine breaches of the ceasefire, although the partial cessation of hostilities appeared to be broadly intact.
There are efforts to strengthen the ceasefire, increase humanitarian access and build confidence before the resumption of peace talks in Geneva on March 7.
Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with Takfiri terrorists, including the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group, currently controlling parts of it, mostly in the east.
The Syrian conflict has killed at least 260,000 people, according to the UN, and more than half of Syria’s pre-war population of 22.4 million has been internally displaced or fled abroad.
