The negotiations initiated between the government of Damascus and a rebel armed group active in the city of Douma, the most important bag of resistance left in the Eastern Ghouta region, are in a stable phase.
This was reported by Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, according to whom "the negotiations are continuing but are delayed by the differences within the rebel group" Jaish al-Islam, which controls the city of Douma.
Crushed by a heavy regime offensive, which has been underway in the area for over 5 weeks, two rebel groups, Ahrar al-Shaam and Faylaq al-Rahman, who controlled a series of territories in eastern Ghouta, have already reached separate agreements with Damascus evacuation of fighters and their families to the north-western province of Idlib, which is still beyond the control of President Bashar al-Assad.
The director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that "The leaders of Jaish al-Islam are divided, some are against an agreement" which would not only concern the evacuation but would aim at a possible "reconciliation agreement", which it would guarantee the armed group to continue to control the city in exchange for disarmament, the deployment of the Russian police and the return of the regime's institutions without, however, the entry of the Syrian army into the city of Duma.
A new meeting is expected in the next few days between a local committee of the city and some Russian representatives and the Damascus regime. According to data provided by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Damascus forces control over 90% of the eastern Ghouta region, where nearly 18 government soldiers have lost their lives in the regime's offensive since 500 February, along with at least 300 rebel fighters. Also according to the Observatory, to these numbers must be added about 1.600 civilians killed in the fighting, including over 300 children, and over 5.000 wounded.