MESOP UPDATE SYRIA : THE “NONE-CEASEFIRE” – Pro-Assad Forces Renew Attacks Near Damascus

January 09 – eaworldview – Scott Lucas – Continuing to break a national ceasefire, pro-Assad forces have renewed their four-week offensive to overrun Wadi Barada, northwest of Damascus. Regime and Hezbollah forces had limited their attacks on Saturdayamid discussions for access by Russian technicians to the water pumping facilities damaged by the pro-Assad assault. Wadi Barada’s al-Fija springs provide more than 60% of Damsascus’s water.

But on Sunday the forces resumed bombing, shelling, and ground assaults to overrun the area of 10 villages and betweeen 50,000 and 100,000 people.Two weeks into the offensive, a ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey went into effect. However, the Assad regime and its supporters maintained the attacks on the pretext that the jihadists of Jabhat Fatah al-Sham were excluded from the truce and were present in the area.

The opposition, rebels, and local sources say that JFS, formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, left Wadi Barada as an organized force in late 2015 and that no more than 30 members are in the villages. Turkey has warned that the offensive will derail plans for political talks between the Assad regime and the opposition later this month in Kazakhstan.Russia has maintained silence while President Assad’s other essential ally, Iran, has backed up the line that the offensive is justified. Local sources also say an Iranian headquarters near Wadi Barada is involved in operations.  www.mesop.de