Russia strikes in Syria break the ceasefire it guaranteed
‘You’re on your own,’ US tells rebels as attacks in Daraa province continue
Russia carried out strikes on rebel-held areas in south-west Syria in breach of a truce it agreed to guarantee a year ago.
And the US warned opposition forces to not expect military support to enforce the agreement.
A “de-escalation” zone in rebel-controlled parts of southern Syria was agreed to by Washington, Moscow and Amman in July last year to reduce hostilities and prevent clashes spilling into Jordan or the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
Since then the truce has largely held, until the Syrian regime of President Bashar Al Assad announced it was gathering troops to retake the area.
Until this weekend, Russian fighter jets had avoided bombing rebel posts in the area under the ceasefire.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK monitoring group, reported late on Saturday that 25 Russian strikes targeted Daraa province, which since last week has faced increasing regime shelling.
“Intense Russian air strikes are hitting towns in Daraa’s eastern countryside for the first time since the ceasefire was agreed in southern Syria last year,” Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said.
“Five civilians, including two women, were killed on Sunday in Russian strikes on the towns of Al Herak, Al Sura and Alma,” Mr Abdel Rahman said.
A total of 23 civilians have been killed in opposition areas since the escalation began on Tuesday, the observatory said.
The Syrian regime has so far used artillery, rockets and barrel bombs, with reports of napalm and phosphorous strikes.
But Russian warplanes had not until now been used. Russian jets have been key to the regime regaining territory.
However, Washington warned the heads of the Free Syrian Army in the south that they should not expect military help to repel a ground offensive or recapture areas bordering Jordan and the Golan Heights.
“We must clarify our position: we understand that you must make a decision based on your interests, the interests of your people and your faction,” Reuters quoted a letter from US officials in Washington as saying.
It said that the US government wanted to make clear that “you should not base your decisions on the expectation of a military intervention by us”.
The opposition commander who received the letter said: “In other words, they are saying ‘you’re on your own’.”
The latest message contradicts an earlier warning from US ambassador to the UN Nikky Haley, who last week urged Moscow to rein in its Syrian ally saying that they would face “serious repercussions” if the ceasefire breaches continued.
Near the Golan Heights, the Israeli army launched a Patriot missile to take down a drone heading from Syrian territory.
The south-west is of strategic concern to Israel, which had this year stepped up attacks on Iranians and their proxy forces such as Hezbollah, that is allied with Bashar Al Assad.
Speaking on Russian TV yesterday, the Syrian president said that the army would also wrest control of the country’s north if the rebels and Kurdish forces there did not surrender.
Meanwhile, a two-day curfew was imposed by the Syrian Democratic Forces – a US-backed force largely made up of Kurdish fighters – in the northern city of Raqqa yesterday after they declared a state of emergency, saying ISIS fighters had entered the city and planned a bombing campaign.
In the east, the Iraqi military said on Saturday said it had targeted a gathering of ISIS leaders, killing about 45 militants.
Iraqi warplanes destroyed three houses connected by a trench in the town of Hajin, where the leaders were meeting.
Until this weekend, Russia planes had avoided bombing rebel posts in the area