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Executive Summary for September 18th

To give you an overview of the latest news we’ve organized the latest Syrian developments in a curated summary. .

Published on Sep. 18, 2013 Read time Approx. 3 minutes

U.S., Russia Sparring at the U.N. The Security Council debate on Syria has begun over a resolution to oversee President Bashar al-Assad’s proposed handover of chemical weapons. Western powers and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki- moon want an enforceable document that will have consequences if the Assad regime reneges on the deal – in other words, a Chapter seven resolution that would pave the way for sanctions or military action as punishment.

Russia disagrees, insisting that there be no threat of force against the Assad regime, its longtime ally.  The New York Times reports that during Tuesday’s Security Council meeting, Russia resisted moves to condemn the Syrian government for chemical weapons use or to refer the case to the International Criminal Court.

Syria is already dominating the agenda at the U.N. General Assembly. Expect it to be heavily referenced in the speeches from world leaders at next week’s general debate (see the U.N. schedule here).

Syria, Russia Dismiss the U.N. Chemical Weapons Report. Russia dismissed the U.N. report on a chemical weapons attack in Syria as “politicized, preconceived and one-sided,” in the words of deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov.

“We are unhappy about this report, we think that report was distorted, it was one-sided, the basis of information upon which it is built is not sufficient, he told Russia Today.

That report presented evidence that sarin gas was fired in rockets launched from regime areas, using munitions engraved with Cyrillic (Russian) letters. Syria counterclaimed that it has “material evidence” that rebels used chemical weapons, which it has now handed over to Russia.

Obama Reframes Goal of Removing Assad From Power. Speaking to Telemundo, U.S. President Barack Obama said his goal is to “transition him out of power,” without sounding any immediate urgency.

“But you know, we’re going to take this one step at a time. The first step right now is to make sure we can deal with the chemical weapons issue,” he said. In August 2011, in contrast, Obama said it was time for Assad to go.

Reuters quoted highlights of the interview, in which Obama said he wants a transition of power that protects Syria’s religious minorities and ensures Islamist extremists are not gaining ground inside the country. On Wednesday Israeli General Yair Golan says Assad could hold onto power for years, given the stalemate on the ground.   

The “Moderate Rebels” are Fighting  al -Qaida (and so are the Kurds). In part the ongoing rivalry between the Free Syrian Army and Al Qaida-linked groups, Free Syrian Army (FSA) units along the Iraqi-Syrian border have been clashing with Jabhat al Nusra and the Islamic State of Iraq in Syria (ISIS), the Daily Beast reports.

“I think this message means al-Qaida forces are willing to take this fight against us into the public,” said Mahmoud al-Aboud, commander of the eastern front for the Free Syrian Army. “I think this is happening now because there is a political vacuum.”

TIME Magazine reported on similar clashes in Aleppo province, framing the power struggle between FSA and al- Qaida groups (Syria’s Rebels Turn on One Another, and That’s Not a Bad Thing). In August, Syria Deeply reported on clashes in Raqqa, where Islamists have formed a new regime. Off the battlefield, Raqqa residents had begun holding nightly protests against the ISIS, citing frustration and anger with its aggressive actions and detentions.

Fighting has raged against Islamists in Kurdish areas, which have been largely autonomous since pushing out the regime. This week Kurdish fighters pushed jihadists from a village near Ras al-Ain.

Suggested Reads from Our Editorial Team:

CNN: UN Chemical Weapons Inspectors to Return to Syria

USA Today: Gates, Panetta Question Obama’s Syria Strategy

National Post/Opinion: How to Really Help Syria

 Hurriyet Daily: Car Bomb Explodes at Syria-Turkey Border Crossing

Guardian: Assad’s Hometown Remains Defiant

Al Monitor: Dismantled Syrian Factories Being Resold in Turkey

TIMESyria’s Rebels Feel Hung Out to Dry by U.S.-Russia Deal

 

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