Syria opposition, rebels not invited to talks

BEIRUT—Neither Syria’s main political opposition body nor representatives of the armed opposition have been invited to international talks on the country’s war, an opposition politician and a rebel leader said.

The Syrian government in Damascus has yet to issue any official comment on the meeting in Vienna on Friday that will bring together about a dozen countries including Saudi Arabia and Iran, which back opposing sides in the conflict.

The Syrian opposition has objected to Iran’s participation in the talks—the first time it has attended such a meeting on Syria—because of its military support for President Bashar al-Assad.

George Sabra, a member of the Syrian National Coalition, told Reuters the failure to invite Syrians showed a “lack of seriousness.”

When asked whether the coalition had been invited to the talks, he said: “That didn’t happen.”

Tehran and Moscow have provided crucial support to Assad’s government, while his regional opponents including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey, demand his departure.

“Iran is part of the problem and not the solution, and its participation in the meeting will prove that to the world,” said Bashar al-Zoubi of the Yarmouk Army, a group affiliated to the Free Syrian Army. “This meeting was accepted by Saudi Arabia and Turkey to expose Iran.”

On Wednesday, Iran said it would take part for the first time in international talks aimed at resolving the brutal war in Syria, as a diplomatic push to end the conflict gained momentum.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif will join key players in the Syrian