MESOP NEWS TOPF OF THE AGENDA: GHOUTA SAMPLER – RELEVANT SOURCES

UN Calls for End to Regime Siege of Syrian Enclave

U.S. envoy to the United Nations Nikki Haley joined top UN officials in condemning a siege (Al Jazeera) of an opposition-held area, calling for an end to the offensive to save civilians from what she called the “barbaric” regime of Bashar al-Assad.

At least 335 people in the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta have been killed since Sunday (Guardian), according to a UK-based monitoring group. The enclave is believed to be the final rebel-held territory near the capital as the country nears the close of its seventh year of war. Some four hundred thousand people remain trapped in the enclave, which is part of an internationally negotiated “de-escalation zone” (Reuters). The UN Security Council is expected to vote today on a resolution demanding a thirty-day cease-fire (AFP).

ANALYSIS

“The UN has almost begged the pro-Assad coalition, which includes Iranian-led militias, to agree to an immediate humanitarian cease-fire. Its appeals have been ignored,” Simon Tisdall writes for the Guardian.

“We are witnessing the re-escalation of conflict in the so-called de-escalation zones,” Galip Dalay writes for Middle East Eye.

“The four de-escalation areas witnessed a relative reduction in fighting in the months after the deal was signed, contributing to a narrative that the conflict was now winding down ahead of a political settlement,” Hashem Osseiran writes for Syria Deeply.

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