Hopes low that Syria ceasefire will be upheld
Infringements by rebels and government troops reported
BEIRUT— A ceasefire came into effect in Syria at sunset Monday in the latest attempt led by the United States and Russia to bring some quiet in the near six-year civil war.
Residents and observers reported quiet in most of the country hours after the truce came into effect, though activists said airstrikes took place on contested areas around the northern city of Aleppo.
Residents in Aleppo said via text message that a government helicopter had dropped explosive cylinders on a rebel-held district, the New York Times reported. And in the southern province of Daraa, a rebel faction said in a statement that it had killed four government soldiers.
There have been extensive doubts expressed among many entangled in the conflict that the ceasefire, timed to coincide with the start of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, would be respected.
The most powerful rebel groups have shown deep misgivings over the ceasefire deal, which was crafted without their input last weekend in Geneva between the top U.S. and Russian diplomats. The first week of the truce will be crucial. During that time, all fighting between the military of Syrian President Bashar Assad and rebels is to stop. However, Assad’s forces can continue airstrikes against Daesh, also known as ISIS and ISIL, and Al Qaeda-linked insurgents.
However, those insurgents are closely allied to many rebel factions and are a powerful force in the defence of Aleppo in particular. That raises the danger that continued airstrikes will draw rebels into retaliation, eventually leading to the ceasefire’s collapse.