MESOP NEWS “INTERESTING TENDENCY” : TRUMP & PUTIN CONTRA IRAN / PROTECTING GOLAN HEIGHTS

Syria Daily: Russia & US Discuss “De-Escalation Zone” in Southwest

By Scott Lucas – June 10, 2017 – EAWORLDVIEW – Russia and the US are holding talks on creation of a “de-escalation zone” in southwestern Syria, but are excluding Moscow’s ally Iran. “Western diplomats and regional officials” said the Russian and US special envoys for Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev and Michael Ratney, and other staff have met at least twice in the Jordanian capital Amman in the past two weeks and will confer again. The areas under consideration are parts of Quneitra Province and Daraa Province, along the borders with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and with Jordan.

It is unclear if these include Daraa city, where pro-Assad forces have been carrying out an intense bombardment to hold back a rebel advance this spring.A “Western intelligence source” claimed that the escalation of the pro-Assad bombing, shelling, and rocket attacks are trying to pre-empt any US-Russian agreement.

QUNEITRA DARAA MAP

The talks are distinctive in their exclusion of Iran, who has joined Russia in propping up the Assad regime. The Islamic Republic reluctantly joined Russia and Turkey in early May in a plan for four de-escalation zones covering part of northwest Syria and suburbs of Damascus.

The US had no role in that plan, put forward at political talks in the Kazakh capital Astana.

However, the Americans are supporting Israel in its desire to keep Iran and its allies such as Hezbollah well away from the border with the Golan Heights. The Israelis have carried out airstrikes and missile attacks, in one case killing Iranian and Hezbollah officers, to deter the establishment of any position in southwest Syria.“Iran and its proxies have to be out of this zone. This is key to the deal being proposed,” a Western official said. However, “two senior diplomats” expressed doubt that Russia can hold Iran and Hezbollah.