Both sides have failed to deliver their ends of the bargain over several previous truces, but the new arrangement goes further by promising a new US-Russian counter-terrorism alliance, only a year after President Barack Obama chastised Russia for a military intervention that US officials said was mainly created to keep Assad in power and target more moderate anti-Assad forces.
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US Secretary of State John Kerry said that the ceasefire if sustained for seven days, the US would forge a military partnership with Russian Federation to launch air strikes on Islamic State (Isis) militants and al-Nusra front.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu spoke to Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov late Friday ahead of the announcement of the deal, both sides said.
The Syrian regime announced its support of the ceasefire deal Saturday, according to the state-run TV.
The ceasefire will be followed by an unlikely new military partnership between the rival governments, targeting Islamic State and al-Qaeda. “Russian agreement, but they will halt their operations on the ground because of the losses they sustained in the battles for Aleppo”, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The ministry says Turkey will deliver aid through the United Nations to the Syrian city of Aleppo, which has seen heavy fighting in recent months.
To get aid into the battered second city of Aleppo, a “demilitarized zone” would be established around the Castello Road into the city.
If a cessation of hostilities holds for one week, the U.S. and Russian Federation – which back opposing sides in the war – could start joint operations against jihadist groups.
Under the terms of the agreement, the rebels and the Syrian government are expected to stop attacking one another.
More than 290,000 people have been killed since the conflict in Syria first erupted in March 2011, and several attempts at securing a long-lasting truce have failed.
Safwan Badawi said: “The Syrian people – whether in areas controlled by the regime or the opposition – have lost faith in both sides”.
President Bashar al Assad’s government made no comment on the peace deal, but Syrian media were broadly positive.
“That should put an end to the barrel bombs, and an end to the indiscriminate bombing, and it has the potential to change the nature of the conflict”.
“As you know this time frame. will give the warplanes of the regime adequate opportunity to cause huge damage in civilian areas and against our military forces”, it said. It is profoundly in the interests of the United States to target Al Qaeda, to target Al Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria which is Nusra.
But according to the letter, the groups are anxious by the absence of enforcement mechanisms, a lack of provision for besieged areas and clauses letting army jets fly for up to nine days after the deal comes into effect.
As well as an end to the killing, the ceasefire promises relief for hundreds of thousands of people living in besieged areas – majority surrounded by pro-government forces.
Key to the deal is the withdrawal of Syrian regime forces around rebel-held Aleppo, allowing desperately needed humanitarian access to besieged communities.
If the ceasefire works, Russian Federation and United States will begin seven days of preparatory work to share information and launch joint aerial attacks on selected positions.
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Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, one of the most powerful factions in Syria, is part of the Fatah Army coalition that played an instrumental role in the fighting against Assad’s forces over the past year in northern Syria.
