US Reaction to the Death of Aloush; These Attacks Complicate Peace Negotiations

Mark Toner, spokesperson for the US State Department, stated on Monday, December 28, that Russian airstrikes on positions of Bashar al-Assad's opposition groups, such as the attack that led to the death of Zahran Aloush, the leader of the Jaish al-Islam group, send a contradictory message to groups involved in peace negotiations. According to Reuters, the spokesperson said these attacks complicate efforts in this regard. Zahran Aloush, the leader of Jaish al-Islam, was killed on Friday during an airstrike in the suburbs of Damascus. Jaish al-Islam was among the opposition groups present at the Riyadh meeting in Saudi Arabia, where a representative was designated to participate in negotiations with the Syrian government. Mark Toner stated on Monday that the US has never supported or assisted Jaish al-Islam and has had concerns regarding the actions of this group during the Syrian civil war; however, Jaish al-Islam has fought against the Islamic State (ISIS) and is present in the political negotiations to end the war in Syria. The State Department spokesperson added that attacks leading to the deaths of Aloush and other leaders of opposition groups complicate efforts to initiate political negotiations and establish a comprehensive ceasefire. He also mentioned that such attacks do not send a constructive message. According to Reuters, Jaish al-Islam is the most significant opposition group against Bashar al-Assad's government in the Damascus area, reportedly having around 15,000 to 20,000 fighters. Meanwhile, Stefan de Mistura, the UN Special Envoy for Syria, expressed hope on Saturday that negotiations between representatives of the government and the opposition would take place on January 25, 2016, in Geneva. The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on December 18 that outlines the process for holding negotiations and establishing a ceasefire in Syria. This resolution calls for a ceasefire and the initiation of talks between government representatives and opposition groups to form a transitional government. Opposition groups against Bashar al-Assad's government held a meeting in early December to determine their representatives in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In this context, the UN's efforts to hold Syrian peace negotiations on January 25 coincide with the death of the leader of Jaish al-Islam in Syria.