The agreement, reached between the US and Russia, was able to stop new Iranian-backed troops, like Hezbollah, from entering but did not remove the troops already there.

This creates a problem because when the ceasefire is violated the Iranian-backed militias will be able to advance and take control of the area as part of their mission to create a land bridge from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea, through Iraq, Lebanon and Syria.

Ceasefire Benefits

Aside from stopping the Iranian Regime from creating a land bridge, through which they would smuggle troops, weapons, and money to terror cells, this ceasefire also prevents civilian casualties in the surrounding areas during battles between the Syrian army and the rebels.

Ron Ben-Yishai wrote on Track Persia: “Both Israel and Jordan respond to any spillover incident, and a continuation of this situation could lead to a general flare-up in the region. A ceasefire will end the spillover fire and reduce the risk of escalation.”

The ceasefire will also ease the humanitarian situation because fewer people will have to flee their homes or seek medical attention for wounds from stray bullets.

Ceasefire Problems

However, in some ways the agreement did not go far enough.

Unfortunately for the Syrian People, this arrangement would leave the dictator Bashar Assad in power for now.
It also doesn’t move these troops from the area as a whole. When the ceasefire is broken, the troops will move right back in without a moment’s notice.

Ben-Yishai wrote: “This is also why this ceasefire may not last very long. The moment the Syrian regime and the Iranians reach the conclusion they are strong enough to reoccupy Daraa and the border crossings between Syrian and Iraq, they will do it without any hesitation.”

For another thing, the implementation of the deal has been left to the Syrian Government and the Russians who are fighting on the same side as the Iranians. So what impetus do they have to ensure that the deal is kept to?

The ceasefire, which was finally agreed between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin on Friday, affects southwestern Syria.

At around the same time, talks between Russia, Iran and Turkey led “de-escalation zones” being established across Syria but fighting in those areas in still ongoing. It could lead to a ceasefire if fully implemented but the negotiations are far from over.