A nationwide ceasefire in Syria brokered by Russia and Turkey was in effect early Friday, a potentially major breakthrough in the nearly 6-year conflict, despite reports of isolated clashes.
The deal, which does not include designated terrorists like ISIL Takfiri group, was announced hours earlier by Russian President Vladimir Putin and confirmed by the Syrian army and opposition.
The ceasefire was reported to be holding in several areas across the country.
AFP reported that shelling and airstrikes in Eastern Ghouta stopped for more than one hour in the region after intensive shelling and raids on Thursday.
The agency also quoted its correspondents in Damascus and Idlib as saying that there had been no sound of shelling, airstrikes or clashes since midnight.
However, some fighting broke out near a Christian town in central Hama province with Takfri factions attacking government forces, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The agreement, hailed by Syria’s government as a “real opportunity” to find a political solution to the war, comes a week after the government forces recaptured second city Aleppo in a major blow to terrorists.
The deal was brokered by Russia and Turkey, which back opposing sides in the conflict, but does not involve Washington, which has negotiated previous ceasefires with Moscow.
Putin said Damascus and the main forces of the armed opposition” had inked a truce and a document expressing a readiness to start peace talks.
Source: Agencies
