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Turkey's Syria Op 'Could Play Major Role' in Russia, US Securing Aleppo Truce

© REUTERS / Abdalrhman IsmailMen inspect a damaged site after double airstrikes on the rebel held Bab al-Nairab neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, August 27, 2016
Men inspect a damaged site after double airstrikes on the rebel held Bab al-Nairab neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, August 27, 2016 - Sputnik International
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Russia and the United States are rumored to be close to reaching an agreement on joint measures to halt fighting in and around Aleppo, Syria's second largest city. Turkey's ground offensive in northern Syria, formally known as Operation Euphrates Shield, "could play a major role in this process," Svobodnaya Pressa asserted.

The new deal will most likely involve both sides sponsoring a ceasefire in Aleppo and introducing a mechanism to uphold it, but it will not see armed rebel groups put down their weapons or Moscow and Washington conduct joint airstrikes on the city, the media outlet noted.

Syrian army fighters during a fight in south-western Aleppo, Syria - Sputnik International
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Turkey's ground offensive that was launched on August 24 was "apparently coordinated" with Moscow, Damascus and Tehran, the media outlet said, offering possible conditions of the agreement if it was made.

They involve Ankara saying yes to Assad remaining in power, making every effort to prevent the Kurds from carving an independent state out of northern Syria and withdrawing its support from Jaysh al-Fath, also known as the Army of Conquest. The latter is a jihadist coalition, comprising Ahrar al-Sham, Jaish al-Islam, Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (formerly called al-Nusra Front), Jabhat Ansar al-Din, Jaysh al-Sunna, etc.

In addition, "thirteen rebel factions of Fatah Halab, a group that has been fighting against government forces in Idlib and Aleppo, were redeployed through the Turkish territory to northern Syria prior to Ankara's operation," Svobodnaya Pressa said. "Along with the Turkish military they are currently fighting against Daesh and the Syrian Democratic Forces made of Kurdish and Arab fighters."

Fatah Halab comprises Faylaq al-Sham, Nour al-Din al-Zinki, Sultan Murad, Jabhat al-Shamiya, 13th Division, Suqor al-Jebel, Jaish al-Tahrir, Hamza Division, Jaish al-Nasr, Mutassim Brigade, Ahrar Tel Rifaat, Liwa al-Fate and to an extent Ahrar al-Sham, an organization that Russia considers to be a terrorist group.

© Sputnik / Umit BektasTurkish army tanks and military personal are stationed in Karkamis in the southeastern Gaziantep province, Turkey, August 25, 2016
Turkish army tanks and military personal are stationed in Karkamis in the southeastern Gaziantep province, Turkey, August 25, 2016 - Sputnik International
Turkish army tanks and military personal are stationed in Karkamis in the southeastern Gaziantep province, Turkey, August 25, 2016

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"There is only one way to resolve the Fatah Halab issue – by adding the group to the list of organizations covered by the ceasefire," Svobodnaya Pressa said. "The group has already published a statement agreeing to deliver humanitarian aid to Aleppo through the Ramouseh suburb and the Castello Road."

Ahrar al-Sham, Jaish al-Islam and Jabhat Fatah al-Sham could also be added to the list of groups covered by the ceasefire regime that Russia and the US brokered in early 2016, Svobodnaya Pressa said.

"If leaders of these groups come to an agreement, then the plan under which al-Nusra Front opted for a rebranding will work. The organization will dissolve in the new structure that will join the ceasefire. This new group will most likely be led by Ahrar al-Sham," the media outlet noted.

© Sputnik / Michael Alaeddin / Go to the mediabankA destroyed building in the Bani Zeid district in north Aleppo
A destroyed building in the Bani Zeid district in north Aleppo - Sputnik International
A destroyed building in the Bani Zeid district in north Aleppo

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If these assertions are correct, the new agreement between Russia and the US will not "cleanse" Aleppo of armed opposition, but it will still be able to enforce a ceasefire regime in the city. Some rebel fighters will then join those fighting against Daesh in northern Syria.

There are certain doubts that either Russia or the US will agree to view al-Nusra Front as a member of legitimate opposition, since both countries consider al-Qaeda's former offshoot in Syria to be a terrorist organization.

On Monday, US Special Envoy for Syria Michael Ratney said that all stakeholders "need to intensify efforts" against terrorist groups, namely Daesh and al-Nusra Front, since they pose a threat to the US and the international community.

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