There has been recent talk about the eastern Qalamoun region being included in the “reduction of escalation” agreement in Syria.
This information was confirmed by Mohammed Aloush, the head of the political bureau in Jaish al-Islam, during his intervention on Orient television a few days ago. Aloush pointed out that “work is being done to introduce eastern Qalamoun in the reduction of escalation agreement after the agreement that recently took place in the eastern Ghouta and there is progress on this subject.”
Speaking to Ammar Johmani on condition of anonymity, a special military source in the eastern region of Qalamoun said that an external meeting recently took place in Jordan, bringing together representatives of the Martyr Ahmed al-Abdu forces, Jaish al-Islam, al-Rahman Legion with a senior Russian officer and American officers. During the meeting, they reached an agreement that the resistance held cities and towns of the eastern region of Qalamoun would be included within the map of the specific places subject to the “reduction in escalation.”
The military source added that the agreement includes al-Rahaiba, Jaroud, al-Nasiriyah, al-Atna and al-Dumayr, as well as al-Mansoura passing through Abu Qus mountain and Petra to the east of the cities mentioned. These areas are considered key strongholds of the resistance factions in the eastern Qalamoun area.
According to the military source, the agreement is an official recognition that the Syrian resistance factions effectively control this area. In the coming days, it has not yet been determined when Russian troops will be deployed to separate the resistance controlled areas from the regime controlled areas. The source also indicated that Russian military personnel would assume the task of supervising check points surrounding the eastern Qalamoun area. They will monitor the entry of medical and relief materials and building materials that the regime banned from entering the region or only allowed in limited quantities.
Speaking to Ammar Johmani, the source pointed out that the agreement signed between the resistance factions and the Russians stipulates that the current local councils will manage the cities and towns of the region of Qalamoun. The Russians are expected to come to the area soon to sponsor the signing of the agreement with the regime according to the items mentioned above. In the meantime, the regime may seek to increase pressure on residents in the regime to achieve some gains before signing the agreement and announcing it in its final form.
On the other hand, this agreement is a unique case in the whole of Syria, as most other areas witnessed the forced migration of fighters and their families to Idlib province. The difference in eastern Qalamoun is attributed in part to the absence of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham from the region and the factions in the region staving off dozens of attempts by Islamic State forces to take control of the region. These factions never stopped fighting the regime forces.
According to the same source, the resistance factions left no means for the regime to claim the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham is present in the area especially as the latter's name was associated with all the forced displacement that took place previously in different areas in Damascus countryside.
According to the source, the reduced escalation areas announced in several parts of Syria are a prelude to a comprehensive ceasefire where any use of weapons, no matter how light, will be considered a violation of the ceasefire and subject to penalization based on Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. After this ceasefire is implemented, the resistance areas remain under resistance control and elections would be held for the presidency and a transitional government under the auspices of the United Nations.
A committee in charge of negotiating for the cities of Jeroud and al-Rahiba reached an incomplete agreement with the regime in the presence of a Russian delegation last July. The agreement stipulated a mutual ceasefire in both cities as well as other neighboring towns for a trial period of two months which is renewable.
Although the resistance factions agreed with the Russian delegation on the terms of the agreement at the time, but the regime sought to put obstacles, evade the negotiations and bypass the Russian sponsor. The regime has until this time, not issued any official response to the proposed items, while the area of eastern Qalamoun witnesses a general calm on all its fronts with the regime. At the same time, many of the people from the area continue to be harassed and arbitrarily arrested when passing through regime checkpoints set up at the entrances of cities since mid-2013.
