Ceasefire in Syria

Ceasefire in Syria
The US-Russia orchestrated ceasefire has begun in Syria, but the "regime of calm" is being approached with great caution.

In the second attempt this year to bring peace to Syria, the US and Russia have brokered a deal to bring silence to the five-year civil war.

The Syrian army announced its truce at 7pm local time coinciding with the beginning of the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha.

The ceasefire will allow humanitarian access to besieged areas on both sides and prevent air strikes from being carried out by President Bashar al-Assad‘s forces.

The ceasefire however, will not mean an end to all activity in the area, with co-ordinated air strikes by the US and Russia against IS and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, the rival jihadist group, to take place during the time of peace.

Whilst the ceasefire has the backing of the Syrian government, rebel groups are more reluctant to accept its rule.

Syria’s five-year civil war has cost the lives of over 250,000 people and displaced more than 11 million others.

US Secretary of State John Kerry has publicly acknowledged that this ceasefire and Russia’s partnership could be the “last chance to save Syria”.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has also released a statement saying that the besieged city of Aleppo would be the focus of the first wave of humanitarian relief.

“It is far too early to draw any definitive conclusions,” John Kerry said in a statement.

“Every element of this arrangement is based on the reciprocal actions that need to be taken,” Mr. Kerry said. “If there is no compliance with the cessation of hostilities…then this arrangement, including the joint implementation center, will not go forward.”

 

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