The new deal will most likely involve both sides sponsoring a ceasefire in Aleppo and introducing a mechanism to uphold it, but it will not see armed rebel groups put down their weapons or Moscow and Washington conduct joint airstrikes on the city, the media outlet noted.
They involve Ankara saying yes to Assad remaining in power, making every effort to prevent the Kurds from carving an independent state out of northern Syria and withdrawing its support from Jaysh al-Fath, also known as the Army of Conquest. The latter is a jihadist coalition, comprising Ahrar al-Sham, Jaish al-Islam, Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (formerly called al-Nusra Front), Jabhat Ansar al-Din, Jaysh al-Sunna, etc.
In addition, "thirteen rebel factions of Fatah Halab, a group that has been fighting against government forces in Idlib and Aleppo, were redeployed through the Turkish territory to northern Syria prior to Ankara's operation," Svobodnaya Pressa said. "Along with the Turkish military they are currently fighting against Daesh and the Syrian Democratic Forces made of Kurdish and Arab fighters."
Fatah Halab comprises Faylaq al-Sham, Nour al-Din al-Zinki, Sultan Murad, Jabhat al-Shamiya, 13th Division, Suqor al-Jebel, Jaish al-Tahrir, Hamza Division, Jaish al-Nasr, Mutassim Brigade, Ahrar Tel Rifaat, Liwa al-Fate and to an extent Ahrar al-Sham, an organization that Russia considers to be a terrorist group.
Ahrar al-Sham, Jaish al-Islam and Jabhat Fatah al-Sham could also be added to the list of groups covered by the ceasefire regime that Russia and the US brokered in early 2016, Svobodnaya Pressa said.
"If leaders of these groups come to an agreement, then the plan under which al-Nusra Front opted for a rebranding will work. The organization will dissolve in the new structure that will join the ceasefire. This new group will most likely be led by Ahrar al-Sham," the media outlet noted.
There are certain doubts that either Russia or the US will agree to view al-Nusra Front as a member of legitimate opposition, since both countries consider al-Qaeda's former offshoot in Syria to be a terrorist organization.
On Monday, US Special Envoy for Syria Michael Ratney said that all stakeholders "need to intensify efforts" against terrorist groups, namely Daesh and al-Nusra Front, since they pose a threat to the US and the international community.
