Syria Situation Report: July 9 - 15, 2016

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on July 14 to discuss a proposal for bilateral military cooperation in the Syrian Civil War. The proposal calls for the establishment of a ‘Joint Implementation Group’ based in Amman, Jordan to “support deliberate targeting” of Syrian Al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra and “maximize independent but synchronized efforts” against ISIS in Syria, according to a draft memorandum leaked by the Washington Post. The U.S. and Russia would only conduct airstrikes against Jabhat al-Nusra that are “agreed in advance” with the exception of “imminent threats” to their respective military forces. Meanwhile, the Syrian Arab Air Force would be grounded in “designated areas” except for certain non-combat purposes and provide “advance notice” of all its air operations at least twenty-four hours in advance. The agreement would only come into force after the implemented of a “strengthened cessation of hostilities” - defined as a reduction to levels of violence achieved during an initial ceasefire in FEB 2016. Talks in Moscow remain ongoing as of publication amidst reports that initial discussions had failed to bridge the gap between the U.S. and Russia on Syria.

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.