- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Free Syrian Army Ready for New Ceasefire if Syrian Government Complies

© REUTERS / Alaa Al-FaqirA Free Syrian Army fighter carries his weapon inside a trench in Al-Yadudah village, in Deraa Governorate, Syria July 8, 2016.
A Free Syrian Army fighter carries his weapon inside a trench in Al-Yadudah village, in Deraa Governorate, Syria July 8, 2016. - Sputnik International
Subscribe
The Free Syrian Army (FSA) armed opposition group is ready to uphold the Syrian ceasefire if the country's government and Russia do likewise, Osama Abu Zeid, an FSA legal adviser, said Sunday.

Free Syrian Army tank (File) - Sputnik International
Free Syrian Army Liberates Ten Villages Around Jarabulus
DUBAI (Sputnik) — On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry announced a new plan aimed at reducing violence in Syria, which includes a new nationwide ceasefire starting on September 12.

"The upholding of the ceasefire by the armed opposition depends on being upheld by the regime and by Russia, the previous agreement was not upheld by the regime, which attacked moderate opposition under the pretext of fighting the Islamic State," Abu Zeid told RIA Novosti.

At the same time, the FSA is not optimistic about the government's ability to commit to the ceasefire, he added.

"For us, the protection of the civilian population is important, and we want to establish a real truce in order to protect civilians, but our experience of interacting with the regime totally precludes us from such optimism," the representative said.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups, such as the Islamic State, which is outlawed in many countries, including Russia.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала