Jordan seeks more security guarantees in south Syria truce

In this Feb. 14, 2017 photo, a member of the Syrian Tribes Army, left, that guards the Syrian side of the berm on the north eastern border with Jordan, shakes hands with a Jordanian soldier. (AP)

AMMAN: Jordan hopes a cease-fire it helped negotiate in neighboring southern Syria will eventually lead to a secure border, the reopening of a vital trade crossing and a gradual return home for Syrian war refugees who sought asylum in the kingdom.
For now, these goals seem out of reach as key security concerns remain unanswered.
Fighting has decreased significantly in southern Syria — a patchwork of areas under regime or opposition control — since the truce was negotiated by Russia, the US and Jordan in July.
But Jordan still seeks guarantees from Syrian President Bashar Assad and his backers, Russia and Iran, that moderate opposition fighters and civilians will not be harmed as regime forces continue to advance in the southeast, despite the truce.
Jordan also wants to see Iranian-backed forces kept away from its border, and is concerned about a potential resurgence of extremist opposition groups.
Jordan has received “mixed messages” about Assad’s intentions, one official said.
He said Jordan fears destabilization and renewed refugee flows if Assad opts for retaliation.
Despite a slight rise in returns, Syrian refugees in Jordan also seem to be hedging their bets. The UN refugee agency said 1,830 refugees returned voluntarily to Syria in July and August, compared to 1,700 between January and June.
Separately, aid officials have said Jordan has deported Syrian refugees — about 400 a month since the beginning of 2017 — according to a report on Monday by Human Rights Watch.