Washington sets Syrian track for both Russia, Turkey

NEWS DESK

This week, Arab newspapers have touched on US moves in the Syrian file.

Al-Arab: Slow implementation of Idlib agreement depletes Russia's patience

Al-Arab newspapers have published this week a number of topics on the Syrian issue, the most important was the situation in Idlib. In this context, al-Arab newspaper said, "Russia adheres to the policy of the so-called "strategic patience" towards the very slow implementation of the Idlib agreement, but observers believe that Moscow may be obliged in the end to change its policy and may take military steps to re-rectify the situation which Russian officials recently expressed dissatisfaction with its progress.

Al-Sharq al-Awsat: Moscow talks about «difficulties» in the implementation of Idlib agreement

Al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper said, "The Russian Foreign Ministry reiterated the warning of the risk of the continuing provocations in Idlib area. It expressed the concern about the difficulties that impede the implementation of the agreement to establish a demilitarized zone, and the spokeswoman on behalf of the Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova reiterated the position of her country towards supporting the Turkish efforts to implement the provisions of Idlib agreement, but she called to be alert about the continuation of provocations by the armed forces that refuse to implement the agreement, and that would put «serious difficulties» in front of the reach to a full implementation that would end the status quo.

Al-Quds al-Arabi: US envoy considers al-Assad "the most dangerous to the future of Syria" and criticizes "Astana"

In another context, al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper quoted from the US envoy to the Syrian issue, James Jeffrey saying, "The Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is more dangerous to his country than anyone, pointing out that Moscow and Damascus destroyed Syria to fight the opponents of al-Assad, and said in declarations quoted on Wednesday by Sky News that Washington wants Syria to be at peace with itself and with its neighbors."

During a press conference, Jeffrey criticized the "Astana" agreement on Syria under Turkish-Russian-Iranian auspices, and considered that this path does not achieve effective results to push in the political process.

Jeffrey reiterated the US administration's positions that the US strategy in Syria focuses on defeating IS and withdrawing all the Iranian elements through the political efforts and pressures to reach a political process that would eventually lead to the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Syria, in addition to achieving a stable political process based on the Resolution 2254 which allows the Syrians to return safely to their country."

Al-Sharq al-Awsat: Russian ideas to ease Iran's sanctions in return for leaving Syria

Al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper said, "Israeli sources reported that Russia is considering ideas that include easing the sanctions on Iran by the US in return for the Iran's exit from Syria which is likely to be proposed during the summit of the US Presidents Donald Trump and the Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the 20th summit in Argentina early next month."

Al-Hayat: The US army will set up monitoring points on the Syrian-Turkish border

Al-Hayat newspaper said the US military would set up monitoring points on the north border of Syria to avoid the tension between Turkey and Syria's Kurds, the allies of the International Anti-Jihadists Alliance.

"We are building surveillance towers in several areas along the Syrian border, the northern border of Syria," Matisse told Pentagon journalists

Matisse explained that the goal is to make sure that the Syrian Democratic Forces (the alliance of Kurdish and Arab factions supported by the Alliance) would not withdraw from the battle against IS organization, and to be able to crush the rest of IS.

Al- Sharq al-Awsat: Washington refuses to trade Iran's existence by easing sanctions

Al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper said, "The Kremlin avoided on Saturday the declaration of the position on the statements made by the US special envoy to Syria, James Jeffrey, while close sources to the decision-making saw a "retreat" from the previous tone of Washington, and the approval of the centrality of Russia's role in the Syrian settlement. Furthermore, Jeffrey said that his country refuses to trade the Iranian presence in Syria with the sanctions on Tehran file.

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ANHA