Ex-Nusra vows to fight on in Syria, denounces de-escalation deal

BEIRUT — The former Al Qaeda branch in Syria has pledged to keep fighting government forces and their Russian and Iranian allies, and denounced ceasefire talks in Kazakhstan. 

Russia, Iran and Turkey agreed on Friday to deploy observers on the edge of a "de-escalation" zone in Syria's Idlib province, which is largely under the control of extremist insurgents. 

While they hailed the agreement as a breakthrough after months of talks in the Kazakh capital Astana, they gave few details. The move falls under a broader deal in which they would set up four such zones across Syria. 

The de-escalation plan has eased fighting in parts of western Syria between rebel factions and government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad. 

But the ex-Nusra Front said the Astana process amounted to the surrender of rebel-held pockets, and what had started with a ceasefire would "end with restoring Bashar's rule to the areas".

The group cut ties with Al Qaeda last year, rebranded, and now spearheads the Tahrir Al Sham extremist alliance, controlling parts of the northwestern Idlib province, on the border with Turkey. 

At least 2 million people live in Idlib, the largest populated area held by rebels — including some nationalist Free Syrian Army (FSA) factions that have taken part in the Astana talks.

Idlib's population has ballooned as thousands of civilians and fighters have left areas the Syrian army seized, with the help of Russian jets and Iran-backed militias. 

Upper hand

Tahrir Al Sham criticised FSA rebels who have attended the Astana meetings, which began with Moscow-led diplomatic efforts separate from UN-based peace talks in Geneva.

"We fear the day will come when those factions will line up alongside Russian warplanes and fight those who reject Assad and his regime," it said in its statement.

Bouthaina Shaaban, a senior aide to Assad, said on Friday that attempts to divide Syria had failed, and repeated the government's vow to take back the entire country, including "Idlib and other areas". 

Assad has gained the military upper hand against an array of rebel groups, including some that have received backing from the United States, Turkey and Gulf monarchies. 

Damascus views any presence of Turkish forces as illegitimate, Syrian state news agency SANA cited a foreign ministry source as saying on Saturday.

“The deal for Idlib is temporary. Its main goal is reviving the old Damascus-Hama-Aleppo road...and for all kinds of traffic to flow to Aleppo,” the source said. The government took full control of Aleppo city, east of Idlib, last year in a major blow to rebels. 

Critics have described the de-escalation plan as de facto partitioning of Syria after years of multi-sided conflict. Moscow, Tehran, and Ankara deny this and say the zones will be temporary, although they could extend beyond the initial six-month term.