Syrian opposition outlines concerns over ceasefire plans

The main umbrella organisation for Syrian opposition groups says it’s ready for a two-week truce to test the government side’s commitment to the US-Russian ceasefire plan.

The Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee (HNC) says it welcomes the plan – but many problems must be addressed before any truce can work.

The ceasefire deal excludes the so-called Islamic State and the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front, which can still be targeted.

The HNC’s statement obtained by Reuters says it “views a temporary two-week truce as a chance to establish how serious the other side is in committing to the points of the agreement.”

However it objects to Russia being guarantor of the plan alongside the United States, saying Moscow was a direct party to the conflict, and that the plan ignored the role Damascus allies Russia – which backs President al-Assad’s government – and Iran were playing.

“We are sure that Russia will do something, but the problem in this agreement, if they target al-Nusra — we are not defending al-Nusra, we are against al Qaeda, we are against ISIS, Daesh — but maybe they will use that as an excuse to target moderate fighters, to target the Syrian Free Army,” said the HNC’s spokesman Salem al-Meslet, speaking from Riyadh.

Earlier this week both the main opposition and rebel group, and the Syrian government, said they conditionally accepted the ceasefire plan. 

It’s due to come into force on Saturday.

However there have been concerns that parties may use the time in the interim to launch attacks and consolidate positions. Earlier this week the opposition accused Russia of stepping up airstrikes since the ceasefire was announced.

Fears over fate of ’10,000 missing refugee children’

It is one of the most disturbing aspects of the migrant crisis – the fate of some 10,000 unaccompanied child refugees thought to have gone missing in Europe.

The EU’s law enforcement agency, Europol, first raised the alarm. 

Those on the frontline, like the Serbian-based NGO ATINA, know only too well the plight of some youngsters.

“They didn’t have the money to pay for the trip so in some way they promised smugglers that they will pay when they reach the destination countries,” said Jelena Hrnjak of ATINA. 

“This means that they are in a kind of a debt. They are obliged to return this debt and nobody knows what they will have to do when they reach the countries where they want to be.”

The fear is that criminal networks are now actively targeting the most vulnerable in countries where they thought they would find sanctuary – with children being exploited, sexually or otherwise.

dozens of Russian generals killed after car bomb

Dozens of Russian generals at a military base near the eastern Syrian city of Latakia were killed Sunday afternoon in a deadly car bomb attack committed by two opposition factions, Ahrar al-Sham and Bayan movement, Syrian opposition groups reported on Wednesday.

According to the media office of Ahrar al-Sham, the two factions, in coordination with local jihadists who were located at the Russian military base, decided to bomb the car after they observed a gathering of senior Russian generals at the military base.

Ahrar al-Sham claims that dozens of Russian generals were killed and injured in the explosion. According to the movement, the announcement of the terror attack was delayed until Wednesday to ensure that the jihadists who committed the attack returned safely to opposition territories.

The military base that was hit by the car bomb is considered one of the most important military centers of the Russian forces on the Syrian coast, located some 15 kilometers from Latakia.

The belated announcement of the car bombing came shortly before the Syrian truce was scheduled to start on Saturday. Russia and the US have already announced that the ceasefire will not apply to ISIS and al-Nusra Front, but in light of this terror attack, Russia might demand the exclusion of Ahrar al-Sham as well.