Clashes Kill 21 Rebels in Aleppo Province
The AP reports that intense fighting in northern Aleppo province killed at least 21 rebels on Monday.
“The clashes, which erupted after midnight Sunday and continued through the day Monday, also left at least 30 soldiers dead or wounded, said the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights,” writes Barbara Surk.
Assad forces, backed by militants from Lebanese Hezbollah and pro-government Shabiha militias, “have been trying to wrest as much territory as possible from the opposition in Aleppo and elsewhere in Syria ahead of the June 3 presidential elections.
“The fighting in the province, pitting troops loyal to Assad against several rebel groups, including the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, was concentrated around two rebel-held villages in the province, said the Observatory, which has documented the 3-year-old conflict based on reports from a network of activists on the ground.”
Syrian Opposition Delegation Is Given Diplomatic Status
The New York Times reports that the Obama administration has granted diplomatic status to Syria’s opposition-in-exile and pledged an additional $27 million in nonlethal assistance to the rebels.
The administration says the move “underlines American support for the moderate opposition,” whose influence has decreased lately with the rise of extremism and the continuing momentum being built by Assad.
As announced by the State Department, the latest moves “are calculated to bolster the opposition’s prestige at a time when President Bashar al-Assad’s government has made military gains, though the changes do not reverse the White House’s long-standing reluctance to get more deeply involved in the conflict.
“As a practical matter, the decision confers foreign mission status on the Syrian opposition’s offices in Washington and New York – a step short of full diplomatic status. That will make it easier for the United States to provide security and to expedite banking transfers.”
Trapped Rebel Fighters Strike Deal to Leave Homs
AFP reports that a “deal between Syria’s government and rebels for opposition fighters to leave the Old City of Homs will be implemented in the next 48 hours, the provincial governor said Monday.”
Talal al-Barazi told the wire: “We will begin the application of the initiative in the coming 48 hours depending on the situation on the ground. I hope that things will go smoothly, in which case the initiative will be completed quickly.”
According to the opposition, “The agreement involves the fate of about 2,250 fighters, civilians and injured people. They have been trapped in the neighborhoods under government siege for nearly two years, and will be granted safe passage out under the accord. ‘We have agreed that they will head towards Talbisseh and Dar al-Kabira,’ Barazi said, referring to two rebel districts in the north of Homs province.
The governor refused to describe the plan as a ‘deal’, preferring to use the term ‘arrangement instead, and said various logistical issues had been tackled.”
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