Russia is threatening to throw out the ceasefire in Syria unless the U.S. agrees to a set of rules of engagement against rebel groups violating it, the AP reports. Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoi accused the U.S. of dragging its feet on talks about monitoring the terms of the recent cessation of hostilities, saying his American counterparts were "not ready for this particular discussion." The U.S. and Russia worked with a coalition of rebel groups and the Syrian government to forge a ceasefire which would allow continued targeting of the Islamic State and the Nusra Front, al Qaeda's Syrian franchise. Violence is down since the agreement went into effect but sporadic violence between the various warring parties has continued.
Russia may be pulling back -- if only slightly or temporarily -- from the conflict in Syria, but Hezbollah says it's staying for the long haul, regardless of what Russia or even Iran does. In an interview on Lebanese television on Monday, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said that the group's "fate and the fate of our Syrian brothers is one and indivisible" and pledged to hang on in the country until its enemies were defeated. As the U.S., Russia, and other parties to the conflict gear up for talks to end the fighting, Nasrallah said Hezbollah is open to a political solution but remains capable of surging more forces into Syria if need be.
“There Is No Russian Withdrawal from Syria” (Dmitry Gorenburg and Michael Kofman, War on the Rocks)
“This maneuver is more about political perceptions than military reality. It constitutes a political reframing of Russia’s intervention in order to normalize Moscow’s military presence in Syria, and make it permanent, while convincing Russians at home that the campaign is over. Putin’s statement is yet another successful effort to achieve a domestic and international publicity coup. The ‘withdrawal’ announcement is not about how Russia leaves, but about how it stays in Syria. Those who have doubts should watch the actual video of Putin ordering Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to initiate the withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria. He orders that Russia’s existing bases in Tartus and Hmeymim continue to operate at present levels. In addition, Russia’s defense minister is to ensure that they are fully defended from land, sea, and air. The worrisome S-400 long range air defense, along with shorter range systems, will remain in place, a point emphasized in later statement by Vladimir Putin. Russia’s main military bases will continue operations: with naval cover, a ground contingent for force protection, and an unknown number of troops still on the ground to advise Syrian forces.”