Assad bows to Russian demand for prisoner swaps with rebels

The Assad regime has finally bowed to Moscow’s demand for prisoner exchanges with the rebels as a confidence-building measure ahead of the coming Syrian peace conference in Astana on Feb. 15-16. DEBKAfile reports that until now, the Syrian government stood adamantly against this concession, with the full support of Tehran.” Monday, Syrian state media finally reported that the government was "always ready" to exchange prisoners in its jails for people "kidnapped by terrorist groups", "particularly in the framework of efforts being made for the coming meeting in Astana.”  There was no immediate reaction from rebel groups.