Guarantors of Syria peace talks to meet in Qatar: Iran FM
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Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi emphasized that Doha would not partake in the discussions, and that the conference was essential to maintaining peace as per the Astana agreement.
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Syrian Army soldiers fire their weapons during a battle with terrorists in east Aleppo on December 5, 2016. (AP)
Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has stated that the senior diplomats from the three guarantor states of the Astana peace process will meet in Qatar to discuss the revival of terrorism in Syria.
Araghchi stated on Wednesday that he will travel to Qatar "early next week" to participate in the Doha Forum.
He indicated that the next Astana process foreign ministerial meeting would be in Doha, noting that Russia and Turkiye's senior diplomats will also be in attendance.
"Certainly, Qatar will not participate in this meeting, and since these ministers are in Doha, we will hold the meeting there."
Iran, Russia, Syria, and Turkiye, established the Astana peace process in January 2017, with the goal of bringing an end to the Syrian crisis, which began in 2011.
Following the rise of terrorism in Syria last week, Iran's top diplomat emphasized the need of preserving the Astana peace negotiations' successes.
Russian mediated evacuation transports officers from Aleppo: Exclusive
In the latest developments on the situation in Syria, a high-ranking source confirmed to Al Mayadeen that the evacuation of military academy officers trapped in Aleppo was facilitated through Russian mediation.
The source clarified that "the Syrian government did not engage in direct negotiations with Turkiye; rather, the discussions were conducted between Moscow and Ankara."
He further stated that "Turkiye negotiated with the al-Nusra Front and exerted pressure on them to release the 650 officers, who were students at the academy," refuting media reports that claimed, "the militants and al-Nusra Front agreed to release the officers after they surrendered to them."
In this context, the source confirmed to Al Mayadeen that the officers "resisted until the very end" before being evacuated to safe areas in a Russian-mediated evacuation.
Earlier today, the General Command of the Syrian Army and Armed Forces announced that the terrorist organizations had lifted the siege on the students of the Assad Military Engineering Academy in Aleppo. The SAA successfully facilitated their safe exit, ensuring their arrival in the city of Homs, where necessary medical care and treatment were provided to the injured.
Terrorists pushed 20 km away from Hama
This development followed the SAA's successful operation earlier today, where it pushed armed terrorist groups more than 20 km away from the Hama's neighborhoods, an Al Mayadeen correspondent reported.
Our correspondent also noted that the city is experiencing a normal working day following a very difficult night due to a misleading media campaign that urged residents to stay indoors.
He also reported hearing the sounds of battles, which have now moved 20 km away from the city after the terrorists retreated towards the northwestern countryside of Hama.
The current battles are concentrated between the SAA and the terrorist groups in the northwest of Hama and along the Zayn al-Abidin Mountain axis in the northeast of the city.
In Aleppo, our correspondent reported that a successful Russian-mediated evacuation has moved students from the Military Engineering Academy to safety.
