World

Violence in southern Syria amid negotiations for a deal

30 of June 2018

This Thursday, June 28, 2018, photo provided by Nabaa Media, a Syrian opposition media outlet, shows children with their family belongings in the back of a truck fleeing from Daraa, southern Syria. The U.N. human rights chief warned Friday of a "catastrophe" in southern Syria where government forces are on the offensive against insurgents as more people fled their homes where they are living in miserable conditions in open areas close to the border with Jordan. (Nabaa Media via AP),This Thursday, June 28, 2018, photo provided by Nabaa Media, a Syrian opposition media outlet, shows children with their family belongings in the back of a truck fleeing from Daraa, southern Syria. The U.N. human rights chief warned Friday of a "catastrophe" in southern Syria where government forces are on the offensive against insurgents as more people fled their homes where they are living in miserable conditions in open areas close to the border with Jordan. (Nabaa Media via AP)

BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian government forces are pressing their offensive in the country’s south under the cover of airstrikes as rebels say Russia — Syria’s ally — has put forward conditions to end the violence that are hard to accept.

Syrian state media said more areas in Daraa province were captured Saturday and in others rebels agreed to hand over their weapons and reconcile with the government.

Ibrahim Jabawi, spokesman for the rebels’ joint operations room, said the insurgents have set up a delegation that met with Russian officials Friday and another meeting is scheduled for Saturday.

Jabawi said Russia, a strong ally of President Bashar Assad’s government, wants rebels to hand over their weapons in a step that would be followed by the return of government forces to rebel-held areas.