Zahran Alloush, the leader of Jaysh al Islam who commanded thousands of fighters in the Damascus suburbs, was killed December 25.
Jaysh al Islam was a leading signatory to an agreement forged in Riyadh among Syrian opposition groups willing to start talks with the Syrian government next year aimed at ending the civil war.
The group warned afterwards that Alloush's death might derail the peace talks, and many analysts agreed that the loss of a leader with his large following and status as a relatively moderate Islamist will haunt the peace negotiations.
"It doesn't send the most constructive message to carry out a strike like that," said U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner.
"The strike on Alloush and others in Jaysh al Islam and other opposition groups do in fact complicate efforts to bring about meaningful political negotiations and a nationwide ceasefire."
[Based on reporting by Reuters, France 24, AFP, and AP]
rferl.org
29/12/15
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Syria: UN and partners aid evacuation of injured from four besieged towns...
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“The humanitarian community in Syria is keen to see the swift implementation of the next phases of the Four Towns Agreement, including humanitarian access to people in these towns,” said the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the country, Yacoub El-Hillo.
“We stand ready to continue providing relief and livelihoods assistance to the millions of people wherever they are in Syria as they bear the brunt of this crisis.”
The UN in Syria, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross carried out coordinated tasks leading to the evacuation of 338 people from Foua and Kafraya, and 125 people from Zabadani and Madaya.
They were simultaneously evacuated by land and air through Turkey and Lebanon to the agreed final destinations where those requiring longer-term medical care will receive it...........http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=52911#.VoIM4k8pr2Y