Syrian Rebels Reject Government Official's Claims of Water Supply Agreement in Damascus

A local governor claims that the Syrian government and opposition have reached an agreement regarding water supply sources around Damascus, allowing army forces to enter these areas. The opposition has denied such an agreement; however, according to local reports, several civilians have managed to leave the area. In recent weeks, news of the Syrian civil war has increasingly focused on clashes in areas surrounding Damascus, which supply water to over five million citizens of the capital and its outskirts. Previously, government officials and rebels had issued conflicting reports about a 'ceasefire' in these regions. Meanwhile, although attacks by the Syrian army and its allies, particularly Hezbollah, have increased during this time, no significant advances have been reported until a few days ago. Recently published news regarding an 'agreement' in areas surrounding 'Ain al-Fijah' (a major water source for Damascus near Wadi Barada) is also contradictory. On one hand, a local official told the Syrian state news agency that the army has reached an agreement with the opposition to enter the area; on the other hand, a news source among the rebels told AFP that this is not true. Nevertheless, both news sources inside Wadi Barada and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in London, confirm that civilians have been allowed or have succeeded in leaving the area through declared safe routes. Ala Ibrahim, the local governor who spoke with the state news agency, stated that 'an agreement has been reached for the disarmament of heavy weapons of the rebels and the exit of non-local rebels.' He added that 'the army is set to enter the area and clear unexploded bombs and mined areas so that a team can enter to repair the damages to the pumps and water pipelines.' Over five million people in Damascus and its surroundings depend on the water resources of 'Ain al-Fijah,' and in recent weeks, the United Nations has expressed concern about their lack of access to water. The Syrian government has accused the rebels controlling these mountainous areas of poisoning the water, an accusation the rebels have denied, stating that such actions would harm them first and foremost. Ahmad Ramadan, an official from the 'National Coalition' of the opposition, told AFP that Ala Ibrahim's statements are unrealistic and constitute 'psychological warfare.' The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also confirmed that no comprehensive agreement has been reached, but civilians wishing to leave have been offered to use safe routes. According to another report, nearly 600 people have managed to exit the conflict center, with the state news agency stating that '60 rebels' were among them. The Syrian government claims that the rebels active in this area are affiliated with 'Jabhat Fateh al-Sham' (an al-Qaeda affiliate), which is not included in the current ceasefire. Opposition groups have rejected this claim and simultaneously accused the army's attacks of disabling the pumps and water pipelines. Clashes around Damascus continue while negotiations between the rebels and the Syrian government are scheduled to take place in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, at the end of this month. The rebels have threatened to withdraw from these negotiations amid escalating tensions in Wadi Barada.