Biodun Iginla, BBC News

Biodun Iginla, BBC News

Friday, February 12, 2016

Syria conflict: Rebels pledge to keep fighting


  • 30 minutes ago

by Leila Mohamed and Biodun Iginla, BBC News, Beirut
A rebel fighter fires towards pro-regime forces during clashes in Sheikh Najar area of the restive Syrian city of Aleppo (25 February 2016)Image copyright AFP
Image caption Syrian rebels have been put on the back foot by the government offensive in an around Aleppo
Rebel groups in Syria have told the BBC they will not stop fighting because they do not believe that Russia will end its bombing campaign in support of the government.
They have expressed scepticism over a deal by world powers to push for a cessation of hostilities within a week.
They have also reiterated their demand that President Bashar al-Assad be removed from power.
Earlier the president said he wanted to retake "the whole country" from rebels.
Three Syrian rebel groups have expressed doubts to the BBC over the cessation of hostilities agreement:
  • A spokesman for the Free Syrian Army said: "We remain sceptical all the time about the Russians."
  • The conservative Ahrar al-Sham group said that it would not stop fighting until government shelling stopped, safe border crossings were opened for civilians, prisoners released and besieged areas relieved
  • Faylaq al-Sham - part of a coalition of seven different groups operating in the north - said that it would not relinquish its weapons until President Assad was removed
Riad Hijab, co-ordinator of Syria's main opposition bloc, earlier told the BBC's Newsnight programme that to announce a cessation of hostilities before making progress in the political process "is not realistic, objective or logical".
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Displaced Syrians fleeing areas in the northern embattled province of Aleppo, walk past tents at the Bab al-Salama camp, set up outside the Syrian city of Azaz on Syria's northern border with Turkey (12 February 2016)Image copyright AFP
Image caption Thousands of Syrians have been displaced by the fighting
Displaced Syrians fleeing areas in northern Aleppo, at Bab al-Salama camp on Syria's northern border with Turkey. 12 February 2016Image copyright AFP
Image caption Thousands of Syrians have fled fighting in Aleppo province and sought shelter at the Turkish border
Agreement to try to bring about a cessation of hostilities and allow more access for humanitarian aid was reached by world powers late on Thursday in Germany, but neither the Syrian government nor the rebels were involved.
So far there has been no sign of the UN realising its hopes of delivering aid imminently to more besieged areas.
A new UN task force set up to co-ordinate aid distributions convened in Geneva on Friday.
Some Syrian cities have been cut off from aid for more than a year because of fighting. About 13.5 million people are in need, the UN says.

'Fighting terrorism'

In his rare interview recorded on Thursday, Mr Assad told AFP news agency that defeating the groups ranged against him could take some time due to the involvement of regional powers.
Mr Assad expressed support for peace talks but said negotiations did not mean "we stop fighting terrorism". And he vowed to sever the rebels' supply route from Turkey.
Media captionIn a rare interview with AFP news agency Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said that he intends to retake "the whole country".
Syrian government forces, backed by Russian air strikes, have almost encircled rebels in parts of the northern city of Aleppo.
US state department spokesman Mark Toner said Mr Assad was "deluded" if he thought there was a military solution to the conflict.
More than 250,000 people have been killed and some 11 million displaced in almost five years of fighting in Syria.
Map

Syria conflict - key questions

smoke rises after shelling by the Syrian army in Jobar, DamascusImage copyright AP
Why is there a war in Syria?
Anti-government protests developed into a civil war that, four years on, has ground to a stalemate, with the Assad government, Islamic State, an array of Syrian rebels and Kurdish fighters all holding territory.
Who is fighting whom?
Government forces concentrated in Damascus and the centre and west of Syria are fighting the jihadists of Islamic State and al-Nusra Front, as well as less numerous so-called "moderate" rebel groups, who are strongest in the north and east. These groups are also battling each other.
How has the world reacted?
Iran, Russia and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement are propping up the Alawite-led Assad government, while Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar back the more moderate Sunni-dominated opposition, along with the US, UK and France. Hezbollah and Iran are believed to have troops and officers on the ground, while a Western-led coalition and Russia are carrying out air strikes.

Related Topics

Syria's war

Background


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