Hoping to project new-found cooperation, the United States and Russia on Friday declared a cease-fire in a corner of Syria, but the announcement already has been met with widespread skepticism on the ground and in diplomatic quarters. Cease-fires agreed to by the U.S. and Russia in Syria — including including a recent ill-fated attempt to save the historic city of Aleppo — have never lasted long, and the U.S. has often accused Moscow of using the cover of such pauses in battle to seize territory. Tillerson said the U.S. and Russia had agreed on what forces would monitor the cease-fire but refused to identify them. Russian and Iranian troops would enforce the cease-fire in Homs province, while only Russian troops would be stationed in the country’s south, in what is presumably a nod to Jordan and Israel. Tillerson ahead of the Hamburg summit outlined several possible “joint mechanism” plans for working with Russia to lay the groundwork for a cease-fire, including the establishment of no-fly zones and on-the-ground monitoring forces.

Source: Los Angeles Times July 07, 2017 22:45 UTC