UN Representative: Syrian Opposition Must Accept They Have Not Won the War

The UN Special Envoy for Syria, Stefan de Mistura, stated on Wednesday, September 6, that the Syrian opposition must accept that they have not won in the six and a half years of war against Bashar al-Assad's government. According to Reuters, de Mistura pointed out that the war in Syria is nearly over as many countries entered the conflict primarily to defeat the group known as the 'Islamic State.' A nationwide ceasefire must be implemented immediately, and Idlib, the most important area under rebel control, will 'maintain the current situation.' The UN envoy added: 'The message to the opposition is very clear: if they intended to win the war, the facts show that this has not happened. As a result, it is now time to achieve victory through peace.' When asked if he meant that government forces have achieved victory, de Mistura said that Syrian government forces have made advances, but neither side can truly claim victory in this war. He added: 'Only under conditions where there is a definitive and long-term political solution can we speak of victory. Otherwise, God forbid, we will witness not a full-scale war but a guerrilla battle that could last another 10 years. Meanwhile, there will be no news of reconstruction.' De Mistura is set to join negotiations next week in Kazakhstan's capital, which he said will help determine the status of Idlib city. The position of Idlib, with a population of two million, recognized by the UN as a territory of rebels, has gained significant importance in discussions regarding Syria's future. The UN envoy stated: 'I am confident that in this area, a non-war situation will prevail, which is completely different from Aleppo. Our goal should be to prevent a recurrence of events like Aleppo, which was the largest battle and at the same time the worst humanitarian crisis during the Syrian civil war.' At the same time, the 'Islamic State' group is on the verge of defeat in two key areas under its control, Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor. De Mistura said: 'The truth is that Deir ez-Zor is almost liberated and, as far as we know, will be completely retaken in a few hours.' He added that the city of Raqqa will also fall in the coming days, and these events will pave the way for a 'frank dialogue' for a ceasefire and peace in October. De Mistura has led several rounds of difficult peace negotiations in Syria since 2016, which have made no practical progress. He said the next round of negotiations will proceed with greater speed and focus on practical and executable aspects. He added: 'The important point is whether the Syrian government is truly ready to negotiate after the liberation of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa, or will it merely emphasize its victories. We all know, and the Syrian government knows well, that without a sustainable and achievable political process, no victory can be attained.' The UN representative asked: 'And will the opposition be able to unite and realistically accept that they have not won the war?'