Staffan de Mistura met divided and distrustful Syrian rebel leaders in Turkey to push for a conflict 'freeze zone' in Aleppo. Many worry that would be little more than a surrender.
GAZIENTEP, TURKEY — UN peace envoy Staffan de Mistura’s bid to establish a “freeze zone” in the embattled northern Syria city of Aleppocame face to face this week with one of its main obstacles: fractured and pressured rebel leaders who fear that a cease-fire under current conditions would constitute surrender.
Mr. de Mistura was in the southern Turkish city of Gazientep on Monday and Tuesday to persuade the rebel leaders to consider the freeze, which he hopes will alleviate Syria’s humanitarian crisis and lay the groundwork for a political process.