ISDEI Instituto de Seguridad, Defensa y Estudios Internacionales

Militant groups operating in Eastern Ghouta have disrupted the first five-hour ceasefire pause in the region and have used it to launch an offensive against governmetn forces, the Russian Center for Reconciliation (RCR) said on February 27. “During the humanitarian pause, militants of the armed groups continued to attack the positions of government forces in the vicinity of the settlements of Khazram and Nawabiya, and after 13.00 they started an offensive and on other destinations. These actions were accompanied by intense artillery fire and fire from small arms, ” the RCR’s head, Maj. Gen. Yuri Yevtushenko told media. “The militants do not let anyone out,” he said emphasizing that the military situation on the ground is “compliacted”. According to Maj. Gen. Yevtushenko, militants had been conducting shelling about every 30 minutes during the humanitarian pause. He called on militant groups to observe the ceasefire and do not prevent people from leaving to safe areas. Daily

Click to see the full-size image The US is accusing Russia of spreading instability in the Middle East and violating the UN-backed ceasefire regime in Syria. “Diplomatically and militarily, Moscow plays both arsonist and firefighter, fueling tensions among all parties in Syria,” the commander of US Central Command, Gen. Joseph Votel, said on Feburary 27. “It is clear that Russia’s interests in Syria are Russia’s interests and not those of the wider international community,” he said. “Their role is incredibly destabilizing at this point.” Gen. Votel continued saying that Russia offers to serve as a mediator in an effort to “undermine and weaken each party’s bargaining position.” “An increase in Russian surface-to-air missile systems in the region threatens our access and ability to dominate the airspace,” the general complained. On the same day, the US State Department accused Russia of “not supporting” the UN-backed ceasefire in Syria and reavealed a disastrous fact