Fifth round of peace begins in Syria

Diplomats from Russia, Iran, Turkey and the US have begun the fifth round of peace talks in Syria with the Syrian government and some members of opposition groups in Syria. The meeting was held in Astana.

The UN special envoy to Syria, Stiffan de Mistura, has been part of the two-day meeting being held in Kazakhstan's capital. Talks in Astana initiated by Russia, Iran and Turkey are divided by UN negotiations held in Geneva about the situation in Syria. Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry has said the talks are considered bilarethal meetings among members of delegations.

Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister, Kairat Abrakhanov, has said that nine armed opposition representatives have been part of the meeting.

Shortly before the meeting began, the US Army announced, the US-backed Syrian forces have penetrated the wall surrounding the town of Raca, in the battle to regain control of the city by the extremist Islamic State group. Militants of the Islamic State have not been part of meetings in Astana and Geneva for achieving peace in Syria. The Islamic State has lost large parts of Syria territory, which it has controlled for several years, reports rap.

Militants of the Islamic State view the town of Raca as their capital within Syria's territory.