January 25 Start Date for Peace Talks Unrealistic, Says Opposition

While U.N. officials have said the peace talks are on schedule, a prominent opposition politician said Thursday he thought the current start date of Jan. 25 was unrealistic, Reuters reports.

“I personally do not think Jan. 25 is a realistic date for when it will be possible to remove all obstacles facing the negotiations,” George Sabra said.

Sabra is part of the opposition’s negotiating body formed in Riyadh last month.

While U.N. special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura is adamant the talks will begin on schedule, rebel groups issued a statement Wednesday saying they would not participate in any negotiations unless humanitarian aid is allowed into besieged areas and all attacks on civilians are stopped.

“There are still towns under siege. There are still Russian attacks on villages, schools and hospitals,” Sabra said. “There is no sign of goodwill.”

U.N. Chief Accuses Warring Parties of ‘Unconscionable Abuses’ Against Civilians

Warring parties in Syria have committed “atrocious acts” and “unconscionable abuses” against civilians, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday.

In comments after a briefing to the General Assembly about his 2016 priorities, the U.N. chief said images of emaciated civilians in the government-besieged town of Madaya was a new low point in a conflict that has already hit “shocking depths of inhumanity,” Reuters reports.

“Let me be clear: the use of starvation as a weapon of war is a war crime,” he said. “I would say they are being held hostage, but it is even worse. Hostages get fed.”

The U.N. Security Council will hold a meeting Friday, requested by Britain, France and the United States, on the widespread use of siege tactics in Syria. The U.N. estimates some 400,000 people live under siege in Syria, but watchdog groups estimate the figure is closer to 1 million.

Aid was delivered on Monday to three besieged communities in Syria, the first time in months the towns of Madaya, Fuaa and Kafraya had received any delivery of food or medicine. Pro-government forces, including the Lebanese Hezbollah group, encircle the town of Madaya, while the mostly Shiite villages of Fuaa and Kafraya are surrounded by rebel groups.

“All sides – including the Syrian government, which has the primary responsibility to protect Syrians – are committing atrocious acts prohibited under international humanitarian law,” Ban said.

Turkey Pounds ISIS Positions In Retaliation for Suicide Bombing

Turkish tanks and artillery bombarded Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria on Thursday after the group claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that killed 10 German tourists, AFP reports.

“Every attack that targets Turkey’s guests will be punished,” said Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

Ground forces shelled some 500 ISIS positions along the Syrian border with Turkey and in northern Iraq in 48 hours.

In an annual meeting with Turkish ambassadors in Ankara on Thursday, Davutoglu said around 200 ISIS fighters were killed in the retaliatory attack.

Western powers have frequently criticized Turkey for not doing its part to combat the spread of ISIS.

Ankara stepped up its role last year in the fight against the extremist group by opening its Incirlik air base to American fighter jets running aerial raids, as well as conducting strikes of its own.

“We will continue to fight the Daesh terror organization in a determined way until it leaves the Turkish border area completely and as long as it behaves in a way that tarnishes the name of our holy religion Islam,” the Turkish P.M. said, using an Arabic acronym to refer to ISIS.

Recommended Reads

• BBC: Turkey ‘Acting Illegally’ Over Syria Refugees Deportations
• The New York Times: In Syrian Town Cut off From the World, Glimpses of Deprivation
• Al-Monitor: Was Zahran Alloush Really a Moderate Leader?
• The Washington Post: Syrian Activists Accuse U.N. of ‘Complicity’ in Blockades
• The Wall Street Journal: Russian Intervention Emboldens Syrian Kurds

Top image: Syrians wait for an aid convoy in the besieged town of Madaya in the countryside of Damascus, Syria on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016 as part of a U.N.-sponsored aid operation in this war-torn country. (AP Photo)