Syrian ceasefire takes effect after bloody weekend
A nationwide ceasefire in Syria brokered by the United States and Russia came into effect at 7pm (1600 GMT) on Monday, the second attempt this year by Washington and Moscow to halt the five-yearlong civil war.
The Syrian Army said a seven-day “regime of calm” would be applied across Syria, and it reserved the right to respond using all forms of firepower to any violation by “armed groups”.
Rebel groups fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad have yet to publicly declare whether they will respect the ceasefire, but rebel sources have indicated they will.
Russia is a major backer of Assad, while the United States supports some of the rebel groups fighting to topple him, as does Turkey, which has stated its support for the agreement.
The agreement’s initial aims include allowing humanitarian access and joint US-Russian targeting of jihadist groups, which are not covered by the agreement. These include Islamic State and al Qaeda’s former Syria branch, known as the Nusra Front until it changed its name and cut ties to al Qaeda in July.
In a gesture loaded with symbolism, state television showed Assad visiting Daraya, a Damascus suburb long held by rebels but recaptured last month after fighters there surrendered in the face of a crushing siege. The Syrian leader performed Muslim holiday prayers alongside other officials in a bare hall in a Daraya mosque.
“The Syrian state is determined to recover every area from the terrorists,” Assad said in an interview broadcast by state media, flanked by his delegation at an otherwise deserted road junction.
He made no mention of the ceasefire agreement, but said the army would continue its work “without hesitation, regardless of any internal or external circumstances”.
The ceasefire faces big challenges, including how to separate nationalist rebels from the jihadists.
The rebels say the deal benefits Assad, who appears stronger than at any point since the early days of the war, with military support from Russia and Iran.
The capture of Daraya, a few kilometres from Damascus, followed years of siege and bombardment and has helped the government secure important areas to the southwest of the capital near an air base.