Zabadani Cease-Fire Extended to Sunday to Ensure Withdrawal
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A cease-fire between the warring sides in the Syrian town of Zabadani and two Idlib villages has been extended until Sunday, sources on both sides said.
The cease-fire between militants on one hand and the Syrian army and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah on the other began Wednesday, Reuters reported on Friday.
It halted fighting in the town of Zabadani near the Lebanese border and the villages of Kefraya and Foua in the northwest Idlib province.
Sources involved in the negotiations say they are focused on agreeing a withdrawal of militants from Zabadani and the evacuation of civilians from the two Shiite villages in the northwest.
“There is no final agreement yet but talks continue,” a source on the militants’ side said.
An official close to the Syrian government said negotiations were going slowly.
Zabadani has been the focus of a weeklong campaign by the Syrian army and Hezbollah aimed at driving out the militants who are still holed up inside.
The militants have meanwhile targeted the two Shiite villages in a parallel offensive.
The negotiations have been led on the militants’ side by Ahrar al-Sham.
The cease-fire began at 6am Wednesday and was initially agreed to last two days.
Issues being discussed included safe passage for wounded fighters who want to leave Zabadani, and the later withdrawal of all fighters, the official close to the Syrian government said.
The militants had submitted a list of names of wounded fighters they want to evacuate initially, the official said.
