While U.N. Special Envoy to Syria Staffan De Mistura seeks to hold a new round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva at end of August, French sources said that Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault was informed by his U.S. counterpart John Kerry that a team of U.S. experts was currently in Moscow to receive from the Russians a pledge that could secure a truce of 5 to 7 days in Aleppo, Asharq al-Awsat reported.
The sources said talks between Washington and Moscow have reached their “final stage,” with the possibility of announcing a certain agreement in the coming days.
However, Paris was not convinced by Washington’s reassurances, saying that although the international community has pledged to achieve a political transition in Syria by August 1, France has to admit that it did not produce an effect.
France also warned that no breakthrough was possible if violence continue in the city of Aleppo, which it said, is about to witness a humanitarian disaster.
Official French sources concerned by the Syrian file told Asharq Al-Awsat that Paris was not comfortable with the mysterious Russian-U.S. agreement and Washington’s long-term plans.
In his fiery comments, Ayrault called on Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to take measures to “urgently restore the ceasefire and to ensure humanitarian access to all areas.”
At the field level, Russian and Assad regime attacks could not prevent opposition forces from continuing their advancement in several parts of West Aleppo and the southern countryside, while regime forces were seen fleeing the battlefields amid confusion among army officers.
A leading opposition source in Aleppo told Asharq Al-Awsat: “The new battle pushed regime forces to divide responsibilities with their allies and to redistribute their forces on several fronts, amid high confusion.”
Also, military sources from Jaysh al-Fatth told Asharq Al-Awsat that Assad forces and their allies “witnessed a large breakdown during the battles, particularly with the start of heavy tanks and missiles shelling.”
The sources said several regime high-ranking officers fled from Aleppo to Hama, through the Khanasser crossing.
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