Syria Ceasefire in Doubt as First UN Observers Arrive

Rebels Claim 'Heavy Shelling' in Homs

The first six members of the UN observer team have touched down in Damascus today, observing a ceasefire which no one seems positive is even still in effect, as rebel factions claimed Assad forces were attacking the city of Homs.

The Syrian regime likewise accused the rebels of several terrorist attacks across the country, but with violence down considerably since the ceasefire took force early on Thursday, there remains considerable hope for negotiation.

Kofi Annan expressed “serious concern” about the shelling in Homs, with other officials predicting an ongoing dispute over whether or not the ceasefire is technically in place.

Still, the arrival of the first observers suggests that Annan’s peace plan is moving forward, and there seems to be at least some hope that the push for a negotiated settlement is still alive, and that full scale civil war can be avoided.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.