'Hudna’ (truce) of al-Zabadani, Kefriyya and al-Fu’aa

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Country/entity: Syria
Region: Middle East and North Africa
Agreement name: 'Hudna’ (truce) of al-Zabadani, Kefriyya and al-Fu’aa
Date: 20 Sep 2015
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/local conflict
Syrian Conflicts (1948 - ) (1976 - 2005) (2011 - )
The agreements relate to three different conflict contexts. Israel-Syria and Syria-Lebanon. The Syrian-Israeli conflict was a key factor for the Syrian intervention during the Lebanese Civil War, with Syrian-backed Palestinian Liberation Army units intervened in 1976 against the Palestinian/Leftist militias. Following a massacre at Tel al-Zaatar that year, Syria was forced to accept a ceasefire at a meeting of the Arab League. However, the Arab League also mandated an Arab Deterrence Force, consisting of mostly Syrian soldiers with token contributions from other Arab League states, thus further legitimizing the Syrian presence in Lebanon. During a second bout of fighting that began in 1989, caused by the formation of rival Lebanese regimes in East and West Beirut, the Syrian-backed regime won and in 1991 the ‘Treaty of Brotherhood, Cooperation and Coordination’ was signed to legalize the Syrian occupation as a means to ensure the security of Syria. Syrian forces were forced to withdraw in 2005 following possible involvement in the assassination of Lebanon’s President Hariri.

Syria-internal. In 2011, domestic upheaval following a wave of protests across the Arab World soon led to violent repression of protestors by Syrian government troops. The violence progressed steadily and by July 2011 the Free Syrian Army (FSA) was formed consisting of defected military units and new recruits. The FSA and rebel umbrella group known as the Syrian National Council represented the first attempt at coordinating rebel factions in late 2011. However, a steady influx of foreign fighters and increased sectarianism radicalised opposition groups, which relied on foreign funding. The nature of the conflict changed drastically in late 2013 as infighting among the opposition groups increased. One of the more significant developments was the split between the al-Qaeda outfits the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, ISIS), and Jabhat al-Nusra in early 2014 in addition to the intensified targeting of other rebel factions by ISIS fighters in particular, including the Kurdish Peshmerga, the FSA and other jihadist outfits. Since the summer of 2014, the conflict was further internationalized when ISIS announced the formation of an Islamic state eroding the state line between Iraq and Syria and also in mid-2015 when Russian forces intervened on behalf of the Bashar al-Assad government in Damascus.
Stage: Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: Intra-Syrian Process (state/non-state)
Parties: Syrian Armed Forces/Hezbollah and Syrian rebel factions fighting under the banner of Jaysh al-Fatah
Third parties: -
Description: Short truce 'hudna' agreement between the Syrian Armed Forces/Hezbollah and Syrian rebel factions fighting under the banner of Jaysh al-Fatah allowing for the civilian evacuation Kefriyya and al-Fu’aa near Idlib. In return rebel fighters would leave Al-Zabadani and surrender medium and heavy arms to the regime. The regime would also release 500 rebel fighters.

Agreement document: SY_150920_Hudna al-Zabadani, Kefriyya and al-Fu'aa_EN.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): SY_150920_Hudna al-Zabadani, Kefriyya and al-Fu'aa_AR.pdf (opens in new tab)| Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type: Formal structured process
Rationale: -> Link to national level; external support mechanism; culture of signing There was allegedly a formally-establish mechanism to support the negotiation as the agreement shall be "implemented under the auspices, supervision and in the presence of the United Nations". Moreover, the struggle between the parties - especially the Syrian army and the Syrian opposition groups - lies at the centre of the Syrian conflict and has been a recurring point of contention ever since 2011. Finally, this is the third ceasefire issued between the parties in the cities of al-Zabadani, al-Fu'aa and Kifraya, attesting for a culture of signing agreements as a medium to solve recurring issues in this locale and to reach peace.
Is there a documented link to a national peace process?: Yes
Link to national process: articulated rationale: The agreement seems to be linked to the national peace process. The agreement involves central state actors, as well as international actors.
Name of Locale: al-Zabadānī, Kifrayā [Kafarya], al-Fuʿaa [al-Fu'ah]
Nature of Locale: Region
GPS Lat/Long (DD): 33.726348, 36.104165
Participant type: Central state actor
Local armed group
Mediator, facilitator or similar: No mention of mediator or similar

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture): No specific mention.
Grievance List: Although the agreement does not refer to specific causes of the conflict, it lists a series of provisions to address local grievances. Those provisions include [Summary] (1) ceasefire; (2) departure of fighters from al-Zabadani to Idlib; (3) evacuation of families in al-Zabadani to Syria or Turkey; (4) evacuation of wounded in al-Fu'aa and Kifraya; (5) release of detainees; (6) demilitarisation of al-Zabadani; (7) medical teams to enter al-Fu'aa and Kifraya.
Cattle rustling/banditry: No specific mention.
Social cover: No specific mention.

Truce of al-Zabadānī, Kifrayā and al-Fuʿaa

20 September 2015

1. This agreement, including the first stage, will be effective immediately after the agreement is signed and the second phase precedes immediately following the first stage.

2. The areas that are covered by the ceasefire in the beginning, and later by the hudnah [are]:

a. South:

al-Zabadānī, Madhayya, Baqīn, Sirghayya, and the surrounding military zone.

b. North:

al-Fuʿaa, Kifrayā, Banīsh, Taftanāz, Taʿum, Maʿrat Masrayn, Idlib City, Ram Hamdan, Zirdana Shalakh.

3. The departure of all fighters from the town of al-Zabadānī who want to leave with their families from the al-Zabadānī area.

4. The only destination for all wanting to leave al-Zabadānī (gunmen, the wounded, families) is Idlib.

5. The Iranian and Lebanese governments endeavour to remove families in al-Zabadanī escaping on illegal routes to Lebanon and repatriate them directly to Syria or Turkey on the condition that there are no more than 40-50 families, and that it is done during the first phase.

6. Those desiring to evacuate among women and children under the age of 18 and men over the age of 50 from al-Fuʿaa and Kifrayā cannot number more than 10,000 Syrian citizens.

7. The complete evacuation of wounded being treated in al-Fuʿaa and Kifrayā taking into consideration those treated in al-Fuʿaa and Kifrayā do not exceed [the stated] 10,000.

8. Pledge and commit to release 500 detainees from state prisons after the completion of the first phase.

In the second phase, discussions [will] begin to break this number down to 325 women, 25 juveniles, and 150 men arrested before the 1 July 2015 [to undertaken] without adherence to specific names or areas.

9. At the zero hour [this] ceasefire will be entered into force, and [will] begin with the undertaking of the first phase.

10. [

This] ceasefire agreement includes the following stipulations, necessary for both sides:

a. The cessation of all military operations and a ceasefire inside the areas of the truce, [as well as] outside of them.

b. The cessation of war planes and helicopters, including the dropping of aid from helicopters.

c. The cessation of any improvements to bunkers and housing on the frontline.

d. The cessation of any advancement in buffer zones between the contact lines.

11. The truce, in addition to the ceasefire, also includes an end to the hostility [aimed at] closing the humanitarian corridor to al-Fuʿaa and Kifrayā, or the closure of passages to Madhayya, Baqīn and Sirghayya.

12. The departure of militants from al-Zabadānī with an individual light weapon, backpacks and one shoulder bag (that does not contain weapons or ammunition).

Individual light arms include one personal pistol and one of the following:

rifles of all kinds, sniper rifles of all kinds, PK machine guns and rocket propelled grenade launchers.

13. The destruction of heavy weapons in al-Zabadānī.

14. The agreement will be implemented under the auspices, supervision and in the presence of the United Nations.

15. All parties will ensure security and smooth progress of work within the areas of their control.

16. It is agreed that the point of reception and handling of those entering or leaving the area of Idlib is the town of Mūrak.

For al-Zabadānī the point [of entry/exit] is reached through the liaison officers of both sides.

17. Within 48 hours of the time the above points are approved, logistical preparations for the implementation of the agreement will begin.

18. This agreement does not include the departure of militants in Madhayya, but it permits the evacuation of the precariously wounded that cannot be treated in Madhayya and this is determined by the Red Crescent under the auspices of the United Nations.

19. The families of militants in al-Zabadānī who wish to leave, these are included in all families that wish to leave that are located in al-Zabadānī, Madhayya, Baqīn and Sirghayya.

20. After withdrawal of the total number who will leave al-Fuʿaa and Kifrayā (women, children, elderly and the wounded), and al-Zabadānī (wounded, weapons bearers and families), the batch of people from the two areas will determined in proportion to the specified numbers.

Mūrak point will be the exchange point in both directions.

21. Medical teams will enter al-Fuʿaa and Kifrayā (determined by the United Nations) to identify the wounded who can be treated in al-Fuʿaa and Kifrayā and wish to be among the 10,000 that leave.

22. A working group will be formed including delegates from the United Nations, Iran and from the militant [organisations] to be considered an authority to follow up on the implementation of the agreement and resolve any problems that may arise.

The UN and Iranian delegates will reside in Damascus and will communicate with the militant [organisation's] delegates.

23. At the end of the first phase, the second phase will begin which includes the release of 500 detainees and prisoners and demonstrating the truce for [a period] of six months in the areas mentioned in Article 2.

The details of the truce and the adjustment of its mechanism will be discussed during a face-to-face meeting.