‘Tacit’ Deal Between U.S., Russia to End Syria War: Assad Adviser

Russia and the United States have reached a “tacit agreement” on ending Syria’s bloody crisis, said a senior adviser to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

“The current U.S. administration wants to find a solution to the crisis in Syria. There is a tacit agreement between the U.S. and Russia to reach this solution,” Bouthaina Shaaban said in an interview with Syrian state television late Wednesday, reports Agence-France Press.

While the United States has called for Assad’s ousting for more than four years, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said last week that it does not have to happen immediately. Similarly, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday that Assad should be involved in any talks set to take place under the auspices of a new Syria peace conference, called for by French President François Hollande earlier this week.

Warring Sides in Syria Reach Agreement on Two Villages, Border Town

Warring sides in Syria have reached agreement – with U.N. assistance – on a deal to extricate a group of trapped villagers and a group of rebel fighters, sources familiar with the talks told Reuters on Thursday.

The deal – reached in talks backed by Iran, which supports the Syrian government, and Turkey, which backs the rebels – offers a rare opportunity for success for foreign-brokered diplomacy in the prolonged conflict.

The agreement includes the withdrawal of rebel fighters holed up near Lebanon, in a mostly government-held area, and the evacuation of some 10,000 civilians from two Shi’ite villages besieged by rebels in Syria’s northwestern Idlip province.

Sources close to both sides told Reuters the deal would be implemented within six months, during which time there would be an extended ceasefire in the areas.

U.S. Cautions Russia Against Fanning Flames of Syria War

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Thursday that he would talk again about Moscow’s military intentions in Syria with his Russian counterpart, but warned that if the Russians insist on fighting the Islamic State without at the same time seeking a political solution to Syria’s civil war they would be “pouring gasoline” on the proverbial fire, the Associated Press reports.

Speaking at the Pentagon, Carter said the Obama administration is concerned that Russia could make use of the warplanes and other military force it has built up recently in Syria to attack Islamic State or moderate Syrian rebels who are fighting against the Assad government. He declined to comment on whether he believes the Russian buildup is intended to undertake airstrikes or other military action.

“To pursue the defeat of ISIL without at the same time pursuing a political transition is to fuel the very kind of extremism that underlies ISIL, and if that’s the Russian view that’s a logical contradiction,” Carter told reporters.

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