The deal only applies to so-called “rebel” groups and doesn’t involve UN-recognized terrorist organizations like Daesh and Al Nusra, both of which will still be targeted by both alliances. In that sense, not much may change in the Syrian battlefield except that the Syrian Arab Army can now hold its northern and northwestern front and concentrate more fully on the Race to Raqqa, which is still in full swing.
Still, questions linger about whether or not the cessation of hostilities will actually hold, since some of the supposed “rebel” groups have said that they won’t recognize the agreement. Damascus responded by saying that these groups would be considered terrorists and therefore legitimate military targets.
Alexander Domrin, professor at the Higher School of Economics (studio guest); Anton Fedyashin, Director of the Carmel Institute of Russian Culture and associate professor of history at American University(from Washington); and Edward Lozansky, President of the American University in Moscow(from Moscow) joined us to discuss the Syrian issue in more detail.
