Rebel groups write letter to US expressing deep concerns but say they will ‘cooperate positively’

Syrian rebel groups wrote to the United States on Sunday, saying they would “cooperate positively” with a ceasefire but, according to two rebel officials, had deep concerns about details of the deal as relayed to them.

The ceasefire was agreed between Russia, which backs the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, and the United States, which backs some rebel groups, to come into effect at sunset on Monday and excludes some jihadi groups.

“We in the revolutionary factions reconfirm our fixed position of dealing positively with the idea of a ceasefire,” said the text of the letter as confirmed by the rebel officials.

But underlining the depth of concern at the details, it cited reservations “linked to our survival and continuation as a revolution”.

The letter voiced worry that the ceasefire was devoid of guarantees, monitoring mechanisms or sanctions against violations, saying that the absence of such mechanisms had allowed the government to scupper a previous deal. It also expressed concern at what it said were clauses in the agreement indicating that Syrian government jets would not be barred from flying for up to nine days after the ceasefire had taken effect.

“As you know, this time frame ... will give the warplanes of the regime adequate opportunity to cause huge damage in civilian areas and against our military forces,” it said.

It said excluding Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, a former al-Qaida affiliate, but not foreign militias backed by Iran, was a double standard and would make the deal less likely to succeed, warning that Russia and the government would use it as a pretext to attack other rebel groups.

It noted that while Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly known as the Nusra Front, did not undertake activities outside Syria’s frontiers, the “sectarian militias” fighting alongside the government operated across borders. The Syrian government is backed by Shi’ite militias from Iraq, Lebanon and Iran.

The letter said the agreement neglected besieged areas and offered no guarantees against the government forcing local agreements on besieged areas, as happened recently in the town of Daraya, near Damascus.

Reflecting opposition concern that the agreement was solely focused on Aleppo, the rebel groups said: “We insist on the necessity of aid going in to all the besieged areas without exception”.