Assad: Ceasefire in a Week? No One Can Do It

The Syrian President, in recent remarks in Damascus, referred to the Munich agreements for establishing a ceasefire in the country, stating that this does not mean a halt in the use of weapons and that no one is capable of creating the necessary conditions for a ceasefire in a week. According to the official Syrian news agency (SANA), Bashar Assad said in a televised speech on February 15, "They say they want a ceasefire" and then asked, "Who can create all the necessary conditions in a week?" and answered, "No one." According to French news agencies, SANA quoted the Syrian President as saying, "Who will talk to the terrorists? If a terrorist group refuses a ceasefire, who will force them to do so? In practice, talking (about a ceasefire) is difficult." The central Syrian government has repeatedly referred to its opposition groups as "terrorist groups". The severe crackdown on initially peaceful protests against Assad's regime gradually led to a crisis that turned into a widespread civil war. Meanwhile, some of Assad's opponents, such as the "Islamic State", became a gathering of extremists who also carried out deadly attacks outside Syria's borders. Global and regional powers last week agreed during a meeting in Munich, Germany, to establish a ceasefire in Syria within a week. However, the implementation details are to be documented by a UN working group led by Russia and the USA. This ceasefire does not include the "Islamic State" and "Jabhat al-Nusra" groups, which are considered "terrorist" by the UN Security Council. According to Reuters, Mr. Assad stated in his televised remarks, "A ceasefire does not mean stopping operations; if that happens, it does not mean that either side will refrain from using their weapons." He added, "A ceasefire primarily means preventing the advance of terrorists. The transfer of weapons, equipment, and terrorists, or strengthening positions will not be allowed." The Syrian President mentioned that there are many questions regarding who is defined as a "terrorist". He added that if we consider the government's perspective, anyone who takes up arms against it is a terrorist. Bashar Assad's forces, with the help of foreign militias, Iranian forces, and Russian airstrikes, have made advances in Aleppo regions in recent days. Russia claims to have conducted airstrikes in the country at the request of the "legitimate Syrian government". Iran states that its military forces are present in Syria as "advisors". The West has called for an immediate halt to attacks in northern Syria. Reports indicate that hundreds of civilians have been killed and injured in airstrikes, and tens of thousands of other Syrians have been displaced in recent days. On the other hand, new tensions have led Turkey and Saudi Arabia, staunch opponents of Assad, to threaten "severe reactions" or "ground incursions" into the Syrian civil war. Global powers and regional countries have not yet achieved significant success in finding a political solution and transitioning from the civil war. While countries like Turkey and Saudi Arabia demand Assad's resignation, Iran states that the Syrian President is a "red line" for Tehran. A research center recently reported that the death toll from the Syrian civil war has reached 470,000, about twice the number last published by the United Nations.