The US under both right wings of its war party wants endless conflict, instability, and chaos continuing in all its war theaters — peace considered detrimental to its imperial ambitions.

On Friday, the Trump regime blocked a Security Council statement, expressing support for cessation of hostilities in Idlib province Syria agreed to by Russia and Turkey on Thursday in Moscow.

Commenting on Friday’s session, Russia’s UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia said his government sought Security Council support for what Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed on with regard to halting hostilities in Idlib.

“(I)t was not possible because of the position of one delegation,” he said.

Asked which one, he said it’s “not appropriate to say the name. Do some guessing.” None needed.

The US is the main obstacle to world peace and stability along with its junior imperial partners — notably key NATO countries, Israel, the Saudis and Turkey under Erdogan in the Middle East.

Nebenzia expressed hope that what was agreed on Thursday in Moscow would hold — “provided that all parties maintain their commitments to the Additional Protocol,” he stressed.

It states the following:

Cessation of hostilities in Idlib to begin after midnight March 6.

Establishment of a 6-km-wide security corridor to the north and south along both sides of the M4 highway by March 15.

Russia and Turkey to jointly patrol the strategic M4 highway to begin March 15.

The Additional Protocol became effective on signing by Russia and Turkey Thursday.

Both countries agreed to support Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity.

They agreed “to combat all forms of terrorism, and to eliminate all terrorist groups in Syria as designated by the UNSC, while agreeing that targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure cannot be justified under any pretext.”

No military solution to years of war was agreed on.

“(I)t can only be resolved through Syrian-led and Syrian-owned, UN facilitated political process in line with the UNSCR 2254 (Dec. 2015).”

It calls for cessation of hostilities and diplomatic settlement to the long-running conflict.

Mandating all parties to the conflict cease hostilities, it urges all UN member states to support efforts for restoring peace and stability to Syria.

The Russia/Turkey agreement also calls for “prevent(ing) further deterioration of the humanitarian situation, protection of civilians, and ensuring humanitarian assistance to all Syrians in need without preconditions and discrimination, as well as prevention of displacement of people and facilitation of safe  and voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their original places of residence in Syria.”

For now, the Russia/Turkey agreement prevented possible direct confrontation between forces of both countries in Syria.

It failed to stop hostilities on the ground. According to Reuters, at least 15 people were killed in clashes between jihadists and Syrian forces on Friday — hours after ceasefire took effect.

According to Russian reconciliation center in Syria head Admiral Oleg Zhuralev, “(s)ix shelling (incidents) have been registered since the beginning of ceasefire at midnight on 6 March.”

AMN News reported that armed drones unsuccessfully attempted to attack Russia’s Khmeimim airbase in Syria Friday night.

Separately, jihadists attacked Syrian forces in and around the strategic city of Saraqib — controlled by government troops.

The above incidents and others breached the tenuous ceasefire. Like numerous earlier ones, it failed straightaway.

Fighting in Idlib continues sporadically. It’s likely just a matter of time before it escalates to pre-Friday levels between jihadists and Syrian/Russian forces.

Many thousands of heavily armed US, NATO, Turkish, Israeli, Saudi supported jihadists remain in Idlib.

Their presence and continued attacks against government forces prevents restoration of peace and stability to the province.

So do occupying Turkish forces and Erdogan’s annexation aims.

The same goes for US occupation of northern and southern Syrian territory, including control over Syrian oil producing areas.

Restoration of peace and stability in Syria requires elimination of illegal foreign occupation and defeat of jihadist fighters.

Russia’s agreement with Turkey failed to resolve these issues.

As long as the US rejects restoration of peace and stability to Syria, wanting Assad replaced by pro-Western puppet rule, conflict resolution will remain unattainable.

Despite Russia’s good faith efforts, that’s the disturbing reality of where things stand in Syria today.

Endless conflict continues with no prospect for near-term resolution.

A Final Comment

Ignoring multiple incidents of violence in Idlib following Thursday’s Russia/Turkey agreement in Moscow, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar pretended they didn’t happen, saying:

“From the moment the ceasefire agreement in Idlib entered into force, there have been no cases of violation thereof until now.”

“We are closely monitoring the situation and in case of attacks on our observation posts will immediately respond.”

Ahead of Thursday’s Moscow meeting, so-called Turkish observation posts have been used as platforms for Erdogan-supported jihadists to attack Syrian forces, civilians, and Russia’s Khmeimim airbase.”

Are they still used for this purpose? Russian satellite imagery will discover if this is the case.

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Award-winning author Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected]. He is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization (CRG)

His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.