Russian special forces on the ground in Syria supervising the transfer of Nusra terrorists from Al Waer district in Homs to Idlib in April 2017 (Photo: Patrick Henningsen @21WIRE)
Yesterday AP reported that Russia’s defense minister has announced that four battalions of Russian military police are currently deployed in safe zones in Syria.
Kurdish fighters of the(YPG guard U.S. forces in the northern village of Darbasiyah, Syria, April. 29, 2017. (AP/ APTV)
WASHINGTON, D.C.– On Tuesday, President Donald Trump continued to mimic the Obama administration’s stance on Syria by approving a plan to arm the Syrian Kurdish militia known as the People’s Protection Units (YPG).
Russian generals attend a briefing in the Defense Ministry in Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 5, 2017. Russia’s military says the agreement setting up four de-escalation zones in Syria will go into effect at midnight. The military also says the deal, which was signed by Russia, Iran and Turkey in Kazakhstan the day before, could be extended to more areas of the war-torn country. The sign on top of the map reads Syrian safe zones. (AP/Pavel Golovkin)
The Duran’s Adam Garrie recently asked Syrian political commentator Afraa Dagher about her views on the recent Astana Memorandum authorising the creation of so-called de-escalation zones/safe zones.
AG: The Astana Group released a memorandum calling for the creation of so-called Safe Zones in Syria. Many says these zones will allow the Syrian led anti-terrorist coalition to disarm or terminate terrorists though others fear they could evolve into US style no-fly zones that could allow terrorists to colonise parts of Syria.
What is your reaction to this?
The introduction of “de-escalation” zones in Syria and specifying remarks by Russia’s chief diplomat to the Astana talks Aleksander Lavrentiev have led to the conclusion that Russia has imposed a “no-fly” zone against the US in Syria, but the reality of the matter is much more nuanced than that.
Syria’s safe zones are now operational. Many are currently questioning whether these areas, mostly in the west and centre of the country will be effective in ending violence?
(ZHE) Russia said it’s ready to send peacekeepers to Syria after Turkey and Iran agreed on Thursday to Russia’s proposal for “de-escalation zones” in Syria. The move, welcomed by the United Nations, has been met with skepticism from the United States as the so-called safe-zones will closed for warplanes of the United States and those of the U.S.-led coalition.
When it comes to the element of surprise, it would seem that Donald Trump has nothing on Vladimir Putin. Russia’s backing of so-called safe zones in Syria, to become active this evening, has shocked many.
However, many others see the Astana Memorandum establishing these zones as a masterful move in the wider geo-political chess game.
READ MORE: 5 reasons the Astana ‘safe zone’ Memorandum is good for Russia and Syria
The controversial move has sparked a great deal of debate, some measured and some outlandishly suggesting that Russia ‘sold out’ its Syrian partner.
Here are the key reasons why it was a masterful geo-political move by Russia that will help keep Syria safe, stable and sovereign.
1. It Simply Reinforces Existing Realities
Currently, Syria is operating under a Russian authored ceasefire which the UN Security unanimously passed late last year. Even Obama’s United States didn’t dare veto the Russian resolution.
