IT’S OFF

Syrian Rebels Freeze Peace Talks

Claiming Syria’s army and its Iranian allies violated the ceasefire.

Syrian rebels called off peace talks Monday following the Syrian government’s alleged violations of the Moscow-backed ceasefire that went into place late last week. The negotiations, being prepared in Kazakhstan, were meant to follow the temporary truce, which had been brokered by Russia and Turkey. “The regime and its allies have continued firing and committed many and large violations,” several rebel groups said in a statement. The rebels “respected the ceasefire across the whole of Syria... [but] the regime and its allies have not stopped shooting.” They wrote, “As these violations are continuing, the rebel factions announce... the freezing of all discussion linked to the Astana negotiations.” Just days ago, the UN Security Council voted to back the Russian-Turkish attempt at brokering a peace deal.