Calm reigns in Syria, as cease-fire holds

What has been seen and described as one of the many fragile cease-fires in Syria is holding.

The Syrian Observatory for Human rights says it is generally calm on all fronts, especially in areas of Damascus, Aleppo and Idleb, apart from a few rockets in the south just after the beginning of the truce at sunset on Monday.

The deal, brokered by Russia and the US, has been described by US Secretary of State John Kerry as possibly the “last chance to save a united Syria”.

If the truce holds for seven days, the US and Russia will carry out co-ordinated air strikes on militant groups – including so-called Islamic State and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (known until recently as the Nusra Front).

The Syrian Army though, a major role player in the conflict says truce will be applied throughout Syria for seven days, but that it reserves the right to respond decisively to any violation by armed groups.

The opposition Free Syrian Army group has said that while it will “co-operate positively” with the ceasefire, it was concerned it would benefit the government.

AFP