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Russian-backed deal on Syria ‘safe zones’ leaves U.S. wary

Iran, Turkey also sign cease-fire, set to begin Saturday

By Louisa Loveluck and Karen DeYoung, The Washington Post
Published: May 4, 2017, 7:07pm

ISTANBUL — Russia, Iran and Turkey said Thursday that they have agreed to create “de-escalation zones” across four areas in Syria, renewing diplomatic efforts to bring warring parties in the country to heel after six years of fighting.

Meeting in the Kazakh capital, Astana, the three powers said the cease-fire deal would come into force Saturday and would apply to both government and rebel forces in the designated areas, where the Islamic State does not hold large swaths of territory.

The agreement, signed by all three guarantor countries, said the zones would be demarcated by checkpoints on the ground and that “unarmed civilians” would be able to move freely between government- and opposition-held territory. Checkpoints would be overseen by the three guarantors but could, “if necessary,” be manned by unspecified “third parties,” it said.

But it was unclear how the deal differed from several previous failed cease-fires in which the Syrian air force continued to bomb rebel-held areas. The agreement said “the parties agreed to take all necessary measures to continue the fight” against designated terrorist groups “within and outside” the zones.

Although Russia and Iran exert influence over Syrian President Bashar Assad and Turkey is an important backer of the rebels, there were few early signs that either side was committed to the deal.

The State Department, noting it was “not a direct participant” in the talks, although it sent an official to observe, said it supported “any effort that can genuinely de-escalate the violence in Syria,” ensure humanitarian aid and promote a political resolution to the conflict.

But the statement, by spokeswoman Heather Nauert, said that “we continue to have concerns” about the agreement, “including the involvement of Iran as a so-called ‘guarantor.’ ” It added: “Iran’s activities in Syria have only contributed to the violence, not stopped it, and Iran’s unquestioning support for the Assad regime has perpetuated the misery of ordinary Syrians.”

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