Foreign-backed Syria militants resume peace talks with Russia

Foreign-sponsored Takfiri militants have re-launched peace negotiations with the Russian military in a bid to reach a ceasefire in southwestern Syria as government troops and allied fighters from popular defense groups are making territorial gains there.

“The talks have resumed this morning between the Russian side and the opposition in southern Syria under Jordanian auspices,” Ibrahim al Jabawi, the spokesman for the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) negotiators, said on Sunday.

The development came a day after talks between Russian negotiators and the team representing Takfiri militants in the town of Busra al-Sham of the southern province of Dara'a broke down, after the latter demanded a complete surrender and the former refused to hand in heavy arms.

Also on Sunday, Syrian army soldiers raised the national flag over a number of buildings in the town of Dael, located approximately 14 kilometers north of Dara’a, after declaring the area safe and free from terrorists, who had earlier turned themselves in and handed over their munitions.

Syria’s official news agency SANA reported that hundreds of locals gathered in the town’s main square, and praised the sacrifices and heroism of Syrian army troopers in the fight against terrorism.

Syria’s southwest is strategically sensitive because of its proximity to the frontiers with both Jordan and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

The recapture of Dara’a is highly important because it borders the occupied Golan Heights which Israel has used to treat wounded militants for years.

The territory's return to the Syrian government control would cut the much-reported collaboration between Israel and militants and deal a blow to Tel Aviv's plans to annex the Golan Heights.

Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The Syrian government says the Israeli regime and its Western and regional allies are aiding Takfiri terrorist groups that are wreaking havoc in the country.

Russia has been helping Syrian forces in an ongoing battle in the province of Dayr al-Zawr as the Daesh terrorist group struggles to keep its last positions in eastern Syria.

The Russian military assistance, which began in September 2015 at the official request of the Syrian government, has proved effective as the Syrians continue to recapture key areas from Daesh and other terrorist groups across the country with the backing of Russian air cover.

On May 21, the General Command of the Syrian Army and Armed Forces announced in a statement that complete security was restored to Damascus and its countryside after al-Hajar al-Aswad district and al-Yarmouk camp had been totally purged of Daesh terrorists.

The development was preceded by flushing the Takfiris out of the towns of Yalda, Babbila and Beit Sahem on the southern outskirts of Damascus.

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