Syria's Lead Negotiator in Opposition Resigns Due to Collapse of Peace Negotiations

The ongoing peace talks aimed at ending the five-year war in Syria have hit a roadblock, with the resignation of Mohammed Alloush, the Syrian opposition's chief negotiator, and repeated violations of a shaky ceasefire threatening to derail the negotiations.

The latest round of talks in Geneva reached a deadlock in April when the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) suspended its participation over an escalation of fighting on the ground. The UN's peace envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, has since announced that he has no plans to convene another round of talks in the next 2-3 weeks.

Alloush, who has been a key figure in the HNC, branded the Geneva negotiations as a failure on both the security and humanitarian fronts. He condemned the international community's inability to enforce resolutions, particularly regarding humanitarian issues such as the lifting of sieges, access to aid, the release of prisoners, and adherence to the ceasefire.

Alloush's resignation may trigger additional defections, including HNC delegation head Asaad al-Zoabi. Zoabi, who defected from the Syrian air force in August 2012, has been advising rebel groups in Syria's south from Jordan.

The opposition insists that any peace deal must include President Bashar al-Assad's departure, while Damascus says his future is non-negotiable. This key stumbling block, along with the continued bombardments and aggressions towards the Syrian people, have made the peace talks unsuccessful in the three rounds held so far.

Meanwhile, the offensive in the north of Syria threatens to overrun the last swathe of territory in the east of Aleppo province held by non-jihadist rebels. Thousands of civilians have fled the area as a result of the fighting.

Despite the setbacks, the international community continues to hope for a political settlement to end the conflict. Diplomats have stated that there is little chance that the opposition would take part in new peace talks if violence is raging and no aid is reaching civilians.

In a positive development, US-led coalition warplanes targeted ISIS positions north of Raqa, killing 45 ISIS fighters. The regime of President Bashar al-Assad and non-jihadist rebels agreed on a shaky ceasefire in February to bolster the peace talks, but repeated violations have left the truce hanging by a thread.

The prominent roles held by Alloush and Zoabi within the HNC have boosted the body's legitimacy among rebels on the ground. However, their departures may weaken the opposition's negotiating position and prolong the conflict.

As the situation in Syria remains volatile, the international community must redouble its efforts to find a peaceful solution to end the suffering of the Syrian people.

Syria's Lead Negotiator in Opposition Resigns Due to Collapse of Peace Negotiations