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“De-escalation zones”: Russia put forward a proposal to create four “de-escalation zones” in Syria on Wednesday at the latest round of talks in the Kazakh capital of Astana. The Syrian opposition walked out of the discussions the same day, however, “because of the violent airstrikes on civilians. The suspension will continue until shelling stops across all Syria,” a rebel source present at the talks told Agence France-Presse.

Iran and Turkey signed the safe-zone proposal on Thursday. The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, described the plan as an “important, promising, positive step in the right direction in the process of de-escalation of the conflict.”

Russian media reportedly obtained a copy of the signed memorandum, which said the proposed safe zones would include areas in the provinces of Idlib and Homs, the Eastern Ghouta region in the Damascus suburbs and a southern area. The draft proposal said the zones aimed to “put an immediate end to the violence” and “provide the conditions for the safe, voluntary return of refugees,” according to an Arabic-language copy of the draft obtained by AFP.

Syrian state-run media added that the memorandum also aimed to “combat terrorism in an effective way.” Syria “supports” the plan and “confirms its commitment to the cessation of hostilities regime signed Dec. 30, 2016, which includes not shelling these regions,” according to a foreign ministry statement.

Russia and Turkey brokered a nationwide cease-fire in December. Iran and the two countries signed a trilateral deal a month later at the first Astana talks, stating that the three would act together to monitor and enforce the cease-fire. However, clashes and aerial bombardments continued in many areas of Syria, including Idlib and Eastern Ghouta.

Advance on ISIS: The United States-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) continued their offensive against the so-called Islamic State, taking control of large parts of the northern Syrian town of Tabqa. On Monday, the United Kingdom-based monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said the SDF controlled roughly 80 percent of the town.

Clashes between the two groups intensified near the end of the week; at least 36 ISIS fighters and 10 SDF fighters were killed, according to the SOHR.

On Tuesday, ISIS attacked a camp for displaced people and a defense forces checkpoint near the Iraq-Syria border, killing at least 30 people, mostly civilians.

“Deteriorating” conditions in Eastern Ghouta: Infighting erupted between the major opposition and extremist groups in Eastern Ghouta. Clashes began last Friday between Jaish al-Islam, a prominent Islamist rebel group in the area, Failaq al-Rahman and the al-Qaida-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. By Thursday, fighting had killed at least 143 people, including 13 civilians, according to al-Jazeera.

The clashes have worsened the already dire situation in Eastern Ghouta, which has been besieged by pro-government forces since 2013, significantly driving up the cost of basic supplies such as food and medicine. Some 400,000 people are trapped in Eastern Ghouta suffering from “the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation” the U.N. in-house news agency said on Monday.

On Tuesday night, a humanitarian convoy of 51 trucks was given permission to enter the area for the first time since October 2016. However, residents in the area’s de facto capital, Douma, said the supplies were not nearly enough.

“The supplies are only enough for a few days. There isn’t even enough for the city of Douma alone – the aid will total 7,000 meals for the 25,000 thousand families in the city,” Khalid Aybour, head of the Douma Local Council told Syria Direct.

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Analysis: The Free Idlib Army’s Role in the U.S. Battle Against Al-Qaida in Syria

As the FSA-linked Free Idlib Army continues to struggle to counter al-Qaida’s control in the province, the U.S. may be looking to support a larger rebel merger on the ground in Syria, writes Syrian journalist Abdulrahman al-Masri.

How to Combat Domestic Violence Among Syrian Refugees? Talk to Men

Domestic violence is reported to have risen sharply among Syrians forced to flee their homeland. While many aid programs target women, some groups in Lebanon are putting new focus on men, hoping to address the problem at the source.

A ‘University in Exile’ to Reconnect Syrian Students and Academics

Syrian students and academics scattered by war have had their careers and education disrupted. We spoke to the founder of the Jamiya Project, which is trying to reconnect Syrian academics to refugee students through blended online and in-person learning.

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Upcoming coverage

We are always looking for new writers, experts and journalists who are covering the crisis in Syria and are interested in writing about a variety of topics. Please send us your ideas, story pitches and any other thoughts about our coverage via email, Twitter or Facebook.

Four Towns Evacuation: Evacuations of civilians and fighters from Madaya, Zabadani, Fou’a and Kafraya was underway on Friday after several delays this week.

Iran and Qatar brokered the evacuation agreement, which allows safe passage for civilians and rebel fighters from Zabadani and Madaya, two rebel-held towns outside the capital that are being besieged by the government, to Idlib province. Under the terms of the deal, safe passage would also be granted to civilians and pro-government fighters from Fou’a and Kafraya, two government-held towns in Idlib that are under siege from rebels, to regime-controlled areas of Aleppo.

Evacuations began over the weekend but were stalled on Saturday when a bomb blast hit buses carrying evacuees from Fou’a and Kafraya, killing at least 126 people, including at least 60 children. No group has claimed responsibility.

Evacuations briefly resumed on Wednesday: some 3,000 people left Fou’a and Kafraya, and an 11-bus convoy left Zabadani. However, the process was then put on hold for 48 hours – until Friday – when rebel forces demanded the release of 750 prisoners in government custody. It is not yet clear if the prisoners have been released but the government has released the prisoners, but the convoys began to move again on Friday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

Chemical Weapons: Results from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) tests and analyses show “incontrovertible” evidence that that Sarin gas or a similar agent was used in the chemical weapons attack in Idlib earlier this month. Initial findings are the result of an analysis of bio-medical samples from the autopsies of three victims and from seven people being treated in hospitals.

Speaking at a press conference in Israel on Friday, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis said he could “say authoritatively” that the Syrian government “retained” some chemical weapons. He added that “it’s a violation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions, and it’s going to have to be taken up diplomatically.”

In a press briefing with Israeli reports on Wednesday, a senior Israeli military officer said the Syrian government still possessed “a few tonnes of chemical weapons,” according to Reuters. The Syrian government has denied using chemical weapons.

Relocated Warplanes: The U.S. said the Syrian government recently moved its warplanes from the Shayrat Airbase to a Russian base in Latakia. U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis confirmed this on Friday, saying that the Syrian government has “dispersed their aircraft, no doubt. They have dispersed their aircraft in recent days.”

Two weeks ago, the U.S. launched 59 cruise missiles on the Syrian airbase, in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack allegedly carried out by the regime in Idlib. A U.S. official told ABC News that the recent move was part of a tactical strategy to protect Syrian aircraft from future U.S. strikes.

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Following the U.S. Missile Strike in Syria

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On Street Child Day, Syrian Students Say ‘We Belong in the Classroom’

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Analysis: US Strike in Syria Unlikely to Provoke Russian Response

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In light of the ongoing regime offensive in the Damascus suburbs, our reporters will look into the role of smuggling tunnels in Syria’s siege economies. We will also continue our coverage of the aftermath of the chemical attack and U.S. strike in Syria, focusing on how recent developments could put civilians even more at risk.