The Syria peace talks in Astana, Kazakhstan have led to a deal to establish multiple new “de-escalation zones” across Syria, aiming to limit fighting between the government and rebels and allow for more talks. Rebels present at the talks endorsed the idea.
But al-Qaeda’s Nusra Front has condemned the plan, insisting that they have no intention of complying with any such deals. They also accused the rebels of plotting to back the Assad government in fighting against them.
Nusra has long been averse to the Astana talks from the start, and used participation in the talks by others as a pretext to attack them in recent months. Nusra’s overt resistance could greatly complicate the de-escalation zones.
Turkey has been massing forces around the Idlib Province border, and is responsible for trying to establish the zones there. While Nusra has long tried to avoid direct confrontation with Turkey, it seems like Nusra’s resistance is going to greatly complicate the process.
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I doubt that Al-Qaeda could have gone to the Astana talks even if they had wanted to be there. The UN and Russia both officially regard them as a terrorist organization, and such groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS have always been excluded from the cease-fires coming from these sorts of negotiations. Thus, its not so much that Al-Qaeda has “been adverse” to the Astana talks, its more that they’d have been immediately arrested had they arrived. At least some parts of the world still regards Al-Qaeda as terrorists and criminals, even if the corporate press doesn’t.
United says they stopped funding the rebels . So whose is now funding them to keep fighting ..The United State claims to have been fighting ISIS for 5 or 6 years . without Russia’s help . Why don’t we let Russia fight ISIS alone with out our help ?. If many Turk ISIS have gone to Syria and not yet commited any crimes . So what , they went to commit crimes . If they were Chinese they would not be allowed to come home .
I am not sure whet is the real point of the article. Nusra Front and ISIS have never been party to any peace dialogues, or cease fire agredments. Never invited, so I do nit see the point in wondering about their state of mind. The Real issue is -/ who is funding them, and who is arming them. Once the permimeter if Idlib is secured by Turkey, Iran and Russia — it may become clearer who is behind them. So far, only Israel is publicly wishing for the war to continue, so it is a likely Nusra Front supporter. Israel treated wounded Nusra in Israel. But with now four zones being surrounded and defined, it will get harder and harder for rogue elements to have the smuggling routes open.