Russia Violates Ceasefire Deal With US and Jordan, As Fighting Escalates in SW Syria

Jordan has warned it cannot take in any more Syrians fleeing the civil war as the Assad regime, backed by Russia, escalates an offensive to recapture strategic territory near the border with Jordan, in apparent violation of a year-old ceasefire agreement between the U.S., Russia and Jordan.With thousands displaced, the fighting in the so-called “de-escalation zone” has threatened to unleash a new wave of refugees into Jordan. Its foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, said Sunday the kingdom was already struggling to host 1.3 million Syrian refugees and could not admit more.King Abdullah met Monday with President Trump at the White House, where according to the Jordanian account they discussed “the importance of maintaining stability in the de-escalation zone in southwestern Syria, as well as respecting the [July 2017 trilateral ceasefire] agreement.”Eleven days ago, amid signs that the Assad regime was preparing to launch an offensive in the ceasefire zone – which includes the Daraa and al-Quneitra provinces – State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert declared in a statement that the U.S. “will take firm and appropriate measures in response to Syrian government violations in this area” – repeating a warning she had made earlier, on May 25.

 

Source: Russia Violates Ceasefire Deal With US and Jordan, As Fighting Escalates in SW Syria | World | Ammon News