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

• 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 - ) )
• 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 | Download PDF
• Agreement document (original language)

  SY_150920_Hudna al-Zabadani, Kefriyya and al-Fu'aa_AR.pdf | 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

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.