Reuters: Syrian rebels say government, Iran seek to wreck Russian shift to "neutrality" - Jan. 22, 2017

Reuters: Syrian rebels say government, Iran seek to wreck Russian shift to “neutrality”

Published Jan. 22, 2017 at 4:26 pm

The Syrian government suspended the evacuation of civilians and fighters from the last rebel-held parts of Aleppo, leaving thousands of people trapped and uncertain of their fate. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, estimated some 8,500 people had left before the operation was suspended, including around 3,000 rebel fighters. Syrian state media reported a figure of around 8,000. (AFP / Omar Haj Kadour)

Photo by AFP

AMMAN – The Syrian government and Iran are trying to wreck an attempt by Russia to move to a position of “neutrality” from being a combatant alongside President Bashar al Assad’s forces, the head of the Syrian rebel delegation at peace talks told Reuters.

Mohammad Alloush said on Sunday the failure of Moscow to put pressure on Iran and the Syrian government to end what the opposition says are widespread violations of a Turkish-Russian brokered ceasefire would be a blow to its influence in Syria.