POLITICS AND SECURITY
OVERVIEW
The Syrian Arab Army (SAA), the Free Syrian Army (FSA), Kurdish armed groups that are part of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) – including the People's Protection Unit (YPG) – and the Islamic State (IS) are fighting for control of territory throughout Syria. Smaller opposition armed groups that are not aligned with major coalitions control smaller areas of territory. The FSA mainly holds territory in the southwest and northwest. International involvement in the conflict includes Russia and Iran supporting the Syrian government, Turkey-backed FSA factions, as well as the international coalition against IS, led by the US. The US also supports ground troops such as the SDF with airstrikes. Since April 2017, there has been direct confrontation between the US and the Syrian government in form of airstrikes.
At the end of July, Russian defense officials and representatives of Syrian opposition groups agreed on a ceasefire in northern Homs governorate.On 9 July, a ceasefire began in southern Syria (large parts of the governorates of As-Sweida, Quneitra and Dara), brokered by the United States, Russia, and Jordan. The ceasefire has been largely respected as of mid-July.
The seventh round of UN-mediated Geneva talks were held in July. Very little progress has been made in any round.
On 6 May 2017, a six-month renewable truce was agreed between Russia, Iran, and Turkey, mainly covering areas controlled by opposition armed groups. The final de-escalation zones were decided in September, covering, fully or partly, Eastern Ghouta and the provinces of Idlib, Homs, Latakia, Aleppo and Hama. Full implementation is yet to be achieved, but the process is advancing. In de-escalation zones, opposition and government forces are expected to halt hostilities, including airstrikes, for six months. Russia will continue to fly over the areas but refrain from conducting air raids. The Syrian government is to allow "unhindered" humanitarian aid into rebel-held areas, and public services are to be restored where they have been cut off. IS and Jabhat Fateh al Sham are excluded from the truce.A similar truce occurred between late December 2016 and May 2017. The Astana talks have increasingly overshadowed the Geneva talks, although Russia, Turkey and Iran failed to finalise agreement in July.
The conflict has killed around 350,000 people since it began in 2011, including 100,000 civilians. 2,700 people were killed in August 2017. Civilians have been subject to direct and indiscriminate attacks, including the use of barrel bombs and other explosives in populated areas since fighting began.