Russia: Syria safe zones to be shut for US, coalition planes

MOSCOW: The safe zones which are being created in Syria will be closed for warplanes of the United States and those of the US-led coalition, Russian news agencies quoted Russian envoy at Syria peace talks Alexander Lavrentyev as saying on Friday.

Turkey and Iran agreed on Thursday to Russia’s proposal for “de-escalation zones” in Syria, a move welcomed by the United Nations but met with skepticism from the United States.

The report comes as Syria’s armed opposition on Thursday rejected the plan to create safe zones in Syria, calling it a threat to the country’s



territorial integrity, and said it would also not recognize Iran as a guarantor of any cease-fire plan.

“We want Syria to maintain its integrity,” opposition delegate Osama Abu Zaid said after Russia, Turkey and Iran signed a memorandum on creating safe zones. The three countries are sponsoring talks in the Kazakh capital Astana aimed at ending Syria’s fighting.

“We are against the division of Syria. As for the agreements, we are not a party to that agreement and of course we will never be in favor (of it) as long as Iran is called a guarantor state,” Abu Zaid said.