Syria: Over 50,000 Militants Join Newly-Initiated Nationwide Ceasefire

Massdar news reported that the Russian Defense Ministry has released the hereunder list of militant groups which have joined the ceasefire in Syria till December 30, 2016:

1. Faylaq al-Sham with over 4,000 militants

The militant group is active in Aleppo, Idlib, Hama and Homs provinces.

2. Ahrar al-Sham with about 16,000 fighters

The full name is Harakat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiyah.

The militant group has been carrying out combat operations against government forces in Aleppo, Damascus, Dara’a, Idlib, Lattakia, Hama and Homs provinces.

3. Jeish al-Islam with around 12,000 fighters

The militant group has been fighting against the Syrian army in Aleppo, Damascus, Dara’a, Deir Ezzur, Lattakia, Hama and Homs provinces.

4. Thuwar al-Sham with around 2,500 militants

The militant group has been clashing with the army men in Aleppo, Idlib and Lattakia provinces.

5. Jeish al-Mujahedeen with about 8,000 militants

The militant group has been battling the army soldiers in Aleppo city and the provinces of Aleppo, Idlib and Hama.

6. Jeish Idlib with more than 6,000 fighters

Jeish Idlib conducts combat actions in the Idlib province.

7. Jabhat al-Shamiyah with about 3,000 people

The militant group has been fighting government forces in Aleppo, Idlib and Damascus provinces.

On Thursday, Turkey’s former Ambassador to the US said that the Syria truce negotiated by Russia and Turkey was “only a first step” down a road towards political settlement, but it might prove to be long-lasting due to the ability of the parties to speak to the government and the militants.

Osman Faruk Logoglu, who served as Turkey’s Ambassador to the US in 2001-2005, said that while every effort to bring hostilities to an end in Syria was important, the fact that Russia, Turkey and Iran endorsed this particular deal makes it more viable in comparison to previous arrangements, RT reported.

The new ceasefire plan, which Ankara announced on Wednesday was preceded by trilateral talks between Teheran, Moscow and Ankara. Conducted at the level of foreign and defense ministers, last week’s talks resulted in a declaration which outlined the principles of a potential ceasefire.

 “Iran, Russia and Turkey are ready to facilitate the drafting of an agreement, which is already being negotiated, between the Syrian government and the opposition, and to become its guarantors,” the document signed in Moscow on December 20 read.