Russia says might use force on cease-fire violators in Syria

[webfact]

Russia says might use force on cease-fire violators in Syria
By NATALIYA VASILYEVA and JAMEY KEATEN

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia on Monday warned the United States that it will start responding unilaterally to cease-fire violations in Syria if the U.S. refuses to coordinate rules of engagement against violators. The U.S. State Department insisted that Moscow and Washington were working constructively to monitor the truce and warned Russia against taking unilateral action.

The Russian military has accused the U.S. of dragging its feet on responding to Moscow's proposals on rules for joint monitoring of the Syria cease-fire and response to violations. It said that further delays are leading to civilian casualties.

Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoi of the Russian General Staff said in a statement on Monday that if the U.S. fails to respond to its proposals on a joint response, the Russian military will have to start unilaterally using force against those who break the cease-fire, starting Tuesday.

The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a separate but similar statement.

In Washington, State Department spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. and Russia were working together to collect and analyze information about cease-fire violations, and that any unilateral Russian action to punish transgressors goes against "the spirit of the cessation of hostilities."

"There has been coordination," Kirby told reporters, saying these matters "continue to be discussed in a constructive manner." But he said no action has been taken against truce violators thus far.

"Our expectation is that Russia will refrain from unilateral actions," Kirby stressed, saying the cessation of hostilities is holding despite some breaches. There is "no reason for anybody to say that there needs to be unilateral action taken."

In Geneva, the U.N. special envoy for Syria, whose office is helping monitor cease-fire violations in Syria, said he was "extremely supportive" of U.S. and Russian cooperation to help bolster a peace process for the war-torn country. Staffan de Mistura pointed to the unprecedented "operation center" that is designed to help the two powers' military and civilian experts to "cooperate in containing the crisis."

"The moment that they (the U.S. and Russia) don't talk substantively, we go back to the past," de Mistura said, "and we can't afford it — and they know it too."

The cease-fire that began on Feb. 27, brokered by Russia and the U.S., has helped significantly reduce hostilities for the first time during the five-year conflict that has killed a quarter-million and turned millions into refugees. The Islamic State group and the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front have been excluded from the truce.

Russian President Vladimir Putin last week recalled some Russian warplanes from Syria, but said the action against those groups will continue.
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Keaten reported from Geneva. Bradley Klapper in Washington and Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-03-22

[craigt3365]

Seems Russia is the one violating the cease fire agreement:

http://time.com/4240992/syria-ceasefire-russia-assad/

A fragile cease-fire remained intact for a third day in parts of Syria on Monday, even as monitoring groups reported renewed Russian airstrikes on areas held by opponents of the regime of Bashar Assad.

[AlexStepashkin]

Seems Russia is the one violating the cease fire agreement:

http://time.com/4240992/syria-ceasefire-russia-assad/

A fragile cease-fire remained intact for a third day in parts of Syria on Monday, even as monitoring groups reported renewed Russian airstrikes on areas held by opponents of the regime of Bashar Assad.

They react to opposition's violation of cease-fire, it's simple

[craigt3365]

Seems Russia is the one violating the cease fire agreement:

http://time.com/4240992/syria-ceasefire-russia-assad/

A fragile cease-fire remained intact for a third day in parts of Syria on Monday, even as monitoring groups reported renewed Russian airstrikes on areas held by opponents of the regime of Bashar Assad.

They react to opposition's violation of cease-fire, it's simple

And the rebels are reacting to the Russian's violation of the cease fire agreement. Chicken and egg.

From that article:

The group said the attacks included two incidents of barrel bombing, in which government forces dropped crude, unguided containers packed with explosives in northwest Syria.

Unacceptable. With all due respect.

[AlexStepashkin]

And the rebels are reacting to the Russian's violation of the cease fire agreement. Chicken and egg.

It seems impossible as Russia don't have own reasons to initiate any attacks in the first place

The group said the attacks included two incidents of barrel bombing, in which government forces dropped crude, unguided containers packed with explosives in northwest Syria.

Unacceptable. With all due respect.

Two thoughts:

1) Looking at this quote, then it's Syrian government who are breaking cease-fire?

2) I wish there would be more objective sources on such incidents

[Galactus]

Putin Russia is never honest as usual. it was also a game for them saying that they are going out of Syria and only some ships and some planes left.

so, they are breaking the truce at many points now.

and later on they will say we were left and due to problems we came back to protect Assad.

so when Assad whistles, russia is back.

[AlexStepashkin]

it was also a game for them saying that they are going out of Syria and only some ships and some planes left.

so, they are breaking the truce at many points now.

How exactly? They just keep their men on their two places - tartus sea port and hmeimim airbase, who works here as usual. Main forces are not here

it's strange to see how they're being taken as the center of all evil things while the whole incident happened without them at all

[Galactus]

it was also a game for them saying that they are going out of Syria and only some ships and some planes left.

so, they are breaking the truce at many points now.

How exactly? They just keep their men on their two places - tartus sea port and hmeimim airbase, who works here as usual. Main forces are not here

it's strange to see how they're being taken as the center of all evil things while the whole incident happened without them at all

It is a swamp there in syria. Russia is doing wrong by being there.

And result; a bombed plane with many innocent russian people dead and bombings in russia might follow like in istanbul three days ago or like belgium today.

[AlexStepashkin]

http://syria.mil.ru/news/more.htm?id=12081086@egNews

We emphasize that force is going to be applied only after receiving reliably proof of systematic violation of cease-fire act signed by 22 feb 2016.
Force is not going to be applied to those units, who are complying cease-fire mode, nor the civilians/civilian objects.

upd:

oh there is eng version exists: http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12081086@egNews

[AlexStepashkin]

And result; a bombed plane with many innocent russian people dead and bombings in russia might follow like in istanbul three days ago or like belgium today.

What is your plan against ISIS? Can you suggest one?

Surely they're trying to show that they don't like any tryings to prevent their actions. But doing nothing is like OK ISIS you can do whatever you want just don't bomb anybody pls.

Plane was bombed not because somebody trying to prevent ISIS from expanding, but because it was possible to be done (lack of security in particular area)

[Hammock]

Putin Russia is never honest as usual. it was also a game for them saying that they are going out of Syria and only some ships and some planes left.

so, they are breaking the truce at many points now.

and later on they will say we were left and due to problems we came back to protect Assad.

so when Assad whistles, russia is back.

Yes, Russia will be back when Assad whistles for sure, without any doubt. What seems unacceptable for you in this? Russia conducts it's own foreign policy without any kind assistance from any other countries, they do not need to ask permissions from anyone what to do