The Syrian regime troops have announced a unilateral three-day ceasefire coinciding with the end of Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The truce applies to the whole country, according to the army’s statement.
The ceasefire had already entered into effect, Syria’s military said on Wednesday.
A “regime of calm” is set to last until midnight Friday and be “implemented across all territory of the Syrian Arab Republic,” they said in a statement published by the state media.
There was no immediate reaction from the opposition groups, and no indication that the Damascus regime coordinated the decision with them.
Holiday break
Earlier this year, the United States and Russia brokered a nationwide ceasefire that led to a drastic drop in the violence. However, the truce did not apply to the “Islamic State” group and the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front. The fighting was eventually resumed after a government offensive in the north.
Moscow has also proclaimed a number of temporary “regimes of calm” in several regions to allow for distribution of humanitarian aid, including in Aleppo and Damascus.
The Wednesday truce coincides with the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, the three day event marking the end of the Ramadan.
dj/sms (AFP, Reuters, dpa, AP)
