Syrian guns fall silent again

– A ceasefire deal for a Syrian rebel-held pocket south of Damascus was reached yesterday, brokered by Egypt and Russia.

Backed by Russia, Iran and Shiite militias, the Syrian government has pushed back rebels across Syria over the past year, shoring up its rule over the main urban centres.

A string of ceasefire deals in recent months has eased the fighting in western Syria. – Reuters

Beirut