But it appears the two are edging towards a deal that will lead to them operating almost as a joint force in Syria. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/APThe essence of the technically complex deal was set out in a letter to the opposition groups written by Michael Ratney, the US special envoy on Syria. One stumbling block in talks over a deal has been how majority Jabhat Fatah al-Sham areas can be designated. Ratney said that in return for the grounding of Bashar al-Assad’s air force, the US “would offer Russia coordination from our side to weaken al-Qaida in Syria. There is little public sign that Russia, or the military balance in Syria, has changed the political dynamic sufficiently for a breakthrough if any fresh talks do get under way.

Source: The Guardian September 09, 2016 11:25 UTC