ISIS, Syria rebel group sign pact of ‘non-aggression’
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the ceasefire deal was agreed between ISIS and moderate and Islamist rebels in Hajar al-Aswad, south of the capital
Syrian rebels and jihadists from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria have agreed a non-aggression pact for the first time in a suburb of the capital Damascus, a monitoring group said on Friday.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the ceasefire deal was agreed between ISIS and moderate and Islamist rebels in Hajar al-Aswad, south of the capital.
Under the deal, "the two parties will respect a truce until a final solution is found and they promise not to attack each other because they consider the principal enemy to be the Nussayri regime."
Nussayri is a pejorative term for the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam to which President Bashar al-Assad belongs.
Syria's armed opposition initially welcomed jihadists including Islamic State members in their fight against Assad.
But the group's harsh interpretation of Islam and quest for domination of captured territory sparked a backlash against it that began in January.
A coalition of rebel groups pushed IS out of much of northern Syria, but it has recaptured much of that territory in recent months and has a strong presence in Hajar al-Aswad.
More than 180,000 people have been killed in Syria since the beginning of the uprising against Assad that began in March 2011.
Also Read
-
Kerry: Egypt has key role to play against ISIS
Egypt FM Sameh Shoukri said ties existed between ISIS and other militant groups in the region and global action was needed Middle East -
An antidote for ISIS’s poisonous narrative
Counter-ideological work means a battle of ideas, not weapons. In the real world, this means challenging the extremist narrative Middle East -
Iran accuses U.S. of violating sovereignty in anti-ISIS fight
Iraq accused the United States of not taking the ISIS threat seriously Middle East -
ISIS has grown larger than Kuwait’s army!
To think that the battle can be completed with aerial intervention or a military campaign in Iraq is a delusion Middle East -
Fed-up foreign ISIS fighters ‘likely to struggle’ when returning home
Experts say the brutality of the conflict 'kicks in,' prompting their return Analysis -
British hostage’s family sends message to ISIS
David Haines was taken hostage in Syria in March 2013 and was threatened with death by ISIS militants Middle East -
America can degrade ISIS, Arabs should destroy it
The defeat of ISIS can be achieved, only when the Arabs exorcise the political and ideological demons Middle East
