U.S., Russia Reach Deal on Cease-Fire in Southwest Syria
Plan emerges as Trump and Putin meet in Germany, set to begin Sunday
Felicia Schwartz
Updated July 7, 2017 2:04 p.m. ET
Smoke billows as a Syrian regime fighter stands guard in Syria's southwestern Quneitra province on July 2 during ongoing clashes for control of the city of al-Baath.
Smoke billows as a Syrian regime fighter stands guard in Syria's southwestern Quneitra province on July 2 during ongoing clashes for control of the city of al-Baath. Photo: Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
By
Felicia Schwartz
The U.S. and Russia have agreed on a cease-fire in southwest Syria, a U.S. official said Friday, in a deal officials said was designed to show the two powers are able to find areas in which to cooperate.
The agreement came as Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump met for the first time on the sidelines of an international summit in Germany and as Washington is seeking to work with Moscow on the long-running Syria conflict.
The U.S. and Russia had been meeting secretly in recent months to discuss setting up what officials call a de-escalation zone in southwest Syria, an area where Syrian government forces and rebels would be separated.
Officials hope that the establishment of the first such zone will help reduce violence and that the U.S. and Russia can work to set up other zones around the country. It is unclear how the zone will be enforced or what the parameters of the agreement will be.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the Syria cease-fire was a first indication that the two countries were able to work together. The agreement is set to take effect on Sunday at noon Syria time.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the cease-fire would be enforced by Russia, the U.S. and Jordan, which borders southwest Syria. Officials from Jordan and Israel were involved in the U.S.-Russia talks.
The agreement between the U.S. and Russia is separate from a series of talks that have been held in Astana, Kazakhstan and led by Russia, Turkey and Iran to create similar zones. Talks on creating those zones failed on Wednesday to complete an agreement.
U.S. officials are wary of Iran’s involvement in the Astana talks and have participated only as observers.
Before leaving for Germany, Mr. Tillerson said on Wednesday that the U.S. was prepared to work with Russia in Syria and would consider joint mechanisms to ensure stability there, including no-fly zones and coordinated aid deliveries.
U.S. military officials have long been wary of no-fly zones, which they see as costly and having the potential to drag the U.S. further into a conflict. The de-escalation zones carry different restrictions than no-fly zones.
There also are multiple “deconfliction zones” in Syria where U.S. and Russian militaries have been working to avoid mishaps, including one around a base near the Syrian town of Al Tanf close to the Iraqi border. U.S. forces and their allies are operating near the zone.
Mr. Tillerson cited these zones as evidence for further potential cooperation between Moscow and Washington in Syria.