Ya’alon skeptical, Ban optimistic as Syrian ceasefire announced

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon struck a pessimistic note over Syria on Monday, saying he was skeptical about the success of “cessation of hostilities” in the war-torn country announced by the United States and Russia a short while earlier.

In a joint statement, the two countries said the partial truce would begin at midnight Damascus time on Saturday, February 27 (2200 GMT Friday), and would apply to parties to the conflict that have committed to the deal — but not to the Islamic State group or al-Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda affiliate.

Parties wishing to be included in the agreement have until noon Damascus time Friday to inform Russia or the United States of their intention to honor it.

“It is difficult for me to see a ceasefire while Daesh (Islamic State) and the al-Nusra Front (a Syrian al-Qaeda affiliate) are not part of the process and the Russians say they will strike both organizations,” Ya’alon said.

Speaking from Haifa port aboard American warship the USS Carney, the defense minister added that both Washington and Moscow recognize Israeli freedom of action in Syria, where the Jewish state is reported to have carried out a series of airstrikes on military targets over the past five years.

“Israeli action is based on a single principle: self-defense,” he said.

“It is well-known in both the United States and Russia, which is currently acting in Syria, that our freedom of action and defense of our interests continue.”

In their joint statement, the United States and Russia called on all Syrian parties, regional states and other players to “support the immediate cessation of violence and bloodshed in Syria and to contribute to the swift, effective and successful promotion of the UN-facilitated political transition process.”

US Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement that, “If implemented and adhered to, this cessation will not only lead to a decline in violence, but also continue to expand the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian supplies to besieged areas and support a political transition to a government that is responsive to the desires of the Syrian people.”

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the partial ceasefire as a “long-awaited signal of hope” and has urged all sides to abide by it.

Ban said the truce announced Monday “contributes to creating an environment conducive for the resumption of political negotiations,” which had been scheduled to resume this week.

Once the cessation of hostilities takes hold, the United Nations will work to secure “access to as many places as possible in order to deliver humanitarian aid,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

The 17-nation group backing Syria’s peace process agreed at a meeting in Munich to implement a ceasefire within a week, but the truce never materialized.

A halt in hostilities in Syria would come after five years of brutal civil war that has killed more than 260,000 people and seen half the population displaced, including over four million overseas.

In return, the groups would be assured of protection from Russian and US-led coalition planes. The two powers are pursuing separate air wars in Syria, with Russia pounding rebel targets and the coalition focused on the IS group.

The deal marks a significant change in the level at which US and Russian officials are prepared to cooperate in Syria.

The Pentagon has previously stressed it is not willing to work with Moscow, which it has accused of indiscriminate bombing, and said any communications should be strictly limited to avoiding military mishaps.

But Monday’s announcement notes Russia and the United States “are prepared to work together to exchange pertinent information … and develop procedures necessary for preventing parties participating in the cessation of hostilities from being attacked by Russian Armed Forces, the US-led Counter ISIL Coalition, the armed forces of the Syrian government and other forces supporting them.”

Nonetheless, the Pentagon on Monday stressed that any ceasefire would have no bearing on its own campaign against the Islamic State.

“ISIL has not been party to this,” Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said, using an alternate acronym for the group.

“Our operations will continue as they have. The coalition will continue to strike against ISIL.”