Government and Rebel Delegations Sit in Same Room, Call Each Other Terrorists

Peace talks between government and rebel representatives meeting in the Kazakh capital got off to a rough start with both sides accusing the other of terrorism, the Associated Press reported.

The meetings in Astana are the first face-to-face encounters between government and rebel delegations in more than a year; earlier talks in Geneva had the delegations in separate rooms talking through a mediator, U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura.

De Mistura mediated yesterday’s talks as well, in which Syrian U.N. ambassador Bashar Ja’afari accused the opposition delegation of representing terrorists while the head of that delegation, Mohammad Alloush from the powerful Jaish al-Islam group, described the Syrian government and its regional allies as terrorist entities.

The talks focused more on consolidating the fragile cease-fire negotiated by Russia and Turkey on December 30 than establishing a broader political settlement.

Doctors Warn of Health Epidemic, 5 Million People Still Without Water

More than 5 million people in Damascus have been without running water for the past month, the Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations warned on Monday.

The Syrian capital’s main water source, the Ain al-Fijeh water facility, was bombed and destroyed in clashes between government and rebel forces in the Wadi Barada area.

The price of bottled water has rocketed in Damascus, and a local doctor reported a severe rise in gastrointestinal disorders, fueling concerns of a health epidemic.

“The situation could lead to a catastrophe as the risk of hepatitis A, cholera and parasitic diseases rises due to a large population using contaminated water,” he said. “We are concerned that we are not able to access people in besieged areas. We have a medical staff member who walks for 8.5 miles [14km] to communicate the situation in Wadi Barada with us. This is absolutely unacceptable.”

Government bombardment of Wadi Barada continues after failed attempts to reach a truce with rebels.

U.S. Denies Russian Claims of Coordinating Airstrikes Against ISIS

The U.S. military denied coordinating airstrikes with Russia on Monday after Moscow claimed they had done so, Reuters reported.

Coordinates provided by the “American side” of the U.S.-led coalition allowed Russia to destroy equipment and ammunition depots of the so-called Islamic State near al-Bab, the Russian defense ministry said.

However, Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon said that the U.S. is not “coordinating air strikes with the Russian military in Syria,” adding that existing lines of communication are exclusively used to avoid collisions in Syria’s airspace.

On the other hand, the White House opened the door to military cooperation with Russia or “anyone else” on Syria, according to press secretary Sean Spicer, the Associated Press reported. This would reverse an existing policy that refuses military coordination with Moscow as long as it backs the Syrian government. The U.S. has provided support to opposition factions fighting the government of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

When asked if the new U.S. administration might work with Assad, Spicer said to “not take that too far.”

Recommended Reads

• Reuters: Prices Soar, Families Use River Water as Islamic State Besieges City
• Al Jazeera: Syria’s War: East Ghouta ‘Refuses Any Evacuation Deal’
• Middle East Eye: Peace Talks: How Iran and Russia May Come to Blows Over Syria
• Los Angeles Times: The Key to Success in Latest Syrian Peace Talks: Low Expectations
• Forbes: To Save Lives in Syria, Removing Iranian Influence Is an Imperative