Saudi-Backed Syrian Opposition Slams Russia's Call to Expand UN Terror List

© AFP 2023 / AMER ALMOHIBANY A fighter from the Jaish al-Islam (Islam Army), the foremost rebel group in Damascus province guards a position on the front line in Jobar, on the eastern edge of the Syrian capital
A fighter from the Jaish al-Islam (Islam Army), the foremost rebel group in Damascus province guards a position on the front line in Jobar, on the eastern edge of the Syrian capital - Sputnik International
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Yahya Aridi, a member of and adviser for the Syrian opposition's High Negotiations Committee told Sputnik Wednesday that Russia's proposal to add two more militant groups operating in Syria to the UN Security Council's Sanctions List is a form of pressure seeking return of the Riyadh-backed opposition to the Syria peace talks.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Tuesday, the Russian mission to the UN submitted a request to the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee to include Ahrar ash-Sham and Jaish al-Islam organizations in the Daesh and al-Qaeda Sanctions List. Riyadh-backed HNC includes representatives of both militant groups.

“If Russia has power to do so, well, they can do so and try to convince others… This is a form of pressure on HNC in order to come back to the negotiations while the bombardment is still on. The talks were suspended for this particular reason, for breach of the cessation of hostilities,” Aridi said.

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Last week, HNC suspended participation in the latest round of Syria peace talks in Geneva over the continuous fighting in Syria, Aleppo in particular, blaming the Syrian government for the violence.

If the Russian move is supported by other SC members, airstrikes against Ahrar ash-Sham and Jaish al-Islam will be allowed by the agreement on the cessation of hostilities, as the truce that came into effect in Syria on February 27 excludes terrorist organizations.

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