Syrian Opposition Groups Meet in Riyadh

Representatives of Syria’s heavily divided opposition and rebel groups met Wednesday in the most ambitious attempt yet to form a unified front against President Bashar al-Assad.

The goal of the Saudi-led opposition conference is to facilitate the establishment of a unified political platform, a vital first step towards ending the civil war and taking on the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS), Reuters reports.

The powerful Kurdish YPG militia, proven to be the most effective ground partner in the U.S.-led coalition’s fight against ISIS, was among several groups excluded from the meeting.

The armed rebel and political opposition groups that did attend the meeting in Riyadh are highly fragmented over such key issues as how to manage Assad’s transition from power, and the role Islam should play within Syria.

The some 100 representatives who attended the first day of the conference include delegates from Islamist insurgent groups like Ahrar al-Sham, established by militants with links to al-Qaida, as well as opposition figures from government-controlled areas in Damascus.

Despite the opposition’s fragmented nature, several delegates told Reuters that the first day of the conference went relatively smoothly.

“We discussed the main problems relating to the dialogue, the transition and all modalities related to the political process,” said a member of the Western-backed Syrian National Coalition. “Most of them agreed.”

The group hopes to complete the talks by Thursday, but delegates have said it may be necessary to extend into Friday.

Turkish Prime Minister Accuses Russia of ‘Ethnic Cleansing’ in Syria

Russia is practicing a campaign of “ethnic cleansing” in Syria and strengthening ISIS extremists, according to Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, AFP reports.

Davutoğlu’s accusation is the latest in more than two weeks of tension between Ankara and Moscow, which was kicked off by Turkey’s downing of a Russian jet on November 24.

“Russia is trying to make ethnic cleansing in the northern Latakia [region] to force [out] all Turkmen and Sunni populations who do not have good relations with the [Syrian] regime,” Davutoğlu said in a conversation with foreign reporters.

Russia’s goal, he said, was to clear the area surrounding its air and naval bases in Syria of any groups they deem to be a security threat.

“They want to expel, they want to ethnically cleanse this area so that regime and Russian bases in Latakia and Tartus are protected,” he said.

“They don’t want to see any Sunni Arab or Turkmen population in that part of Syria. That is the purpose.”

No-Fly Zone Impossible Because of Russia, Assad: Pentagon

Vice Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Paul Selva, said that while the U.S. military does have the ability to create a safe zone in Syria that it could protect with air power, Russia and the Assad government stand in the way.

“If we’re asking the question, ‘Can we do it?’ the answer is ‘yes,’” Selva said, according to U.S. News. “Are we willing to engage the potential of a direct conflict with the Syria integrated air defense system of Syria forces or, by corollary, a confrontation with the Russians, should they choose to contest the no-fly zone?”

Selva said these are questions that have been asked and answered.

“We have not recommended it, because the political situation on the ground and the potential for miscalculation and loss of American life in the air in an attempt to defend the no-fly zone does not warrant the no-fly zone,” he said.

Selva is the second-highest ranking military officer in the U.S. and head adviser to President Obama.

Recommended Reads

• The New York Times: Four Plans Compete to Authorize Military Force Against the Islamic State
• The Daily Beast: ISIS is the Con Ed of Syria
• AFP: ISIS Gains and Losses in Iraq and Syria
• Foreign Policy: Russia Is Using Syria as a Training Ground for Its Revamped Military and Shiny New Toys
• International Business Times: Turkey, Russia, Iraq And Syria: The Black Market Oil Trade That’s Fueling ISIS And Dividing The Terrorist Group’s Opponents