Some Syria rebel groups suspend planned peace talks
Several Syrian rebel groups said Tuesday they will not participate in planned peace negotiations to be held later this month, because of what they described as "large violations" by the Syrian government of a four-day old cease-fire deal.
A cease-fire deal between President Bashar Assad's regime and opposition fighters brokered by Russia and Turkey went into effect Friday. It is to be followed by talks between mainstream rebel factions and Syrian government representatives in the Kazakh capital of Astana.
But in a statement posted late Monday, 10 rebel factions said they are suspending any talks related to the Astana negotiations or any discussions related to the cease-fire "until it is fully implemented."
It said the violations in the Barada Valley continue and “threaten the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.” The statement also said the opposition will consider any military changes made on the ground to be a serious violation of the cease-fire agreement “that renders it null,” according to The Associated Press.
The government and the opposition disagree about whether the Barada Valley region is part of the cease-fire deal, which excludes militants such as the Islamic State. The Syrian government says the mountainous region is not part of the cease-fire because of the presence of the Fatah al-Sham Front. Local activists deny any militant presence in the area, the AP reported.
Opposition activists reported heavy bombardment of villages in the region. The opposition’s Civil Defense first responders reported at least nine government airstrikes since Sunday, and a shortages of medical supplies. Six people have been killed and 73 have been wounded, it said, the AP reported.