Russia: de-escalation zones in Syria will be closed for Western Coalition aircraft
The flights of the coalition aircraft in the zones of de-escalation in Syria will not be permitted, as the guarantor countries (Russia, Turkey and Iran) will closely monitor all activities in those areas, said Alexander Lavrentyev, the Russian President's special envoy and Russian Chief Negotiator on Syria in Astana.
"Aviation in the de-escalation zones, especially by the forces of the international coalition, is absolutely not envisaged - neither with notification nor without notification. The matter is closed. The only instance in which the aviation of the international coalition may operate is on "Islamic state" facilities that are located in the region of concentration of the forces of this grouping - in the area of Raqqa, in other settlements in the region of the Euphrates, Deir ez-Zor, and on Iraqi territory," Lavrentyev told reporters.
"As for their actions in the de-escalation zones; at the moment. all these zones are closed for their flights. In the memorandum this is not spelled out, but flights of aviation over these territories will be stopped, and we as guarantors will closely monitor all actions on this front," he noted.
Talks on Syria were held in Astana on May 3-4, during which representatives of the guarantor countries - Russia, Iran, and Turkey – participated, as did representatives of the United States, the United Nations, the Syrian government and the opposition. On Thursday, The negotiators signed a memorandum for four security zones in Syria.