Syria Situation Report: July 1 - 8, 2016

The Syrian Arab Army declared the start of a seventy-two-hour nationwide ‘regime of calm’ between July 6 and July 8 to celebrate Eid al-Fitr. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry welcomed the announcement, expressing hope that the deal could be crafted into a “longer-lasting...enforceable, accountable cessation of hostilities that could change the dynamic on the ground”. Local activists nonetheless reported that pro-regime forces continued to engage in clashes, shelling, and airstrikes across the country, particularly near the flashpoints of Damascus and Aleppo City. Russia and Syria have previously declared unilateral ‘regimes of calm’ in certain parts of the country in order to portray themselves as constructive actors despite their continued military operations against the opposition under the guise of fighting terrorism. The announcement comes shortly after an alleged proposal last week from the U.S. to undertake limited military cooperation with Russia in Syria against ISIS and Syrian Al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra in exchange for a halt to regime airstrikes targeting “moderate” opposition groups.

This graphic marks the latest installment of our Syria SITREP Map made possible through a partnership between the Institute for the Study of War and Syria Direct.