“Why Saudi Arabia and Qatar are not part of Syrian Ceasefire Deal” was the headline of a recent article on the official Russian Sputnik news agency, referring to an agreement achieved in late December in Moscow by Russia and Turkey as its co-guarantors, and which Iran was also part of. However the article provides no clear explanation.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declared that Egypt could soon become part of the Syrian peace talks, adding that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and Iraq will also be invited to take part in these efforts in the future. The article notes that Saudi Arabia and Qatar have long provided support to some of the radical groups fighting in Syria, one of the factors contributing to the continuation of the nearly six-year war.

After the active Russian military intervention in Syria since September 2015, the Saudis have taken a strong stand. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir threatened his country would embrace a military option if Syrian President Bashar Assad did not step down as part of a political transition.

Read the full article at JPost.