The Saudi-backed opponents of Syrian President Bashar Assad released a statement that called the truce a “chance to establish how serious the other side is in committing to the points of the agreement”, according to Reuters.
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United Nations diplomats are considering a Security Council resolution endorsing a U.S. and Russian backed cease-fire in Syria, which U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says is “the one way that we can end this war”.
A foreign ministry statement said the Syrian government would continue to fight both those groups as well as other “terrorists”, while agreeing to stop other military operations “in accordance with the Russian-American announcement”.
Russian Federation says there is no Plan B if the cease-fire collapses and fighting is expected to worsen if it does.
French President Francois Hollande said Tuesday that the ceasefire must be implemented, after discussing it with Britain, Germany and the United States. The agreement does not apply to the Islamic State, also known as ISIL or ISIS, or the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front terrorist groups. “It’s going to be extremely challenging, especially at the outset, to make this work”, Power said.
“It’s a waste of time and it’s hard to implement on the ground”, said Abu Ibrahim, a commander in the 10th Brigade opposition force in the northwestern Latakia province.
“We do not know which planes carried out the strikes and also we are not sure if this is considered a breach to the truce because it is not clear if these towns are included in the truce”, the Observatory’s director Rami Abdulrahman said.
The Riyadh-based HNC said it has formed a military committee headed by its chief Riad Hijab to “follow up and coordinate” on implementation of the ceasefire.
Speaking on reports that the USA seeks to include humanitarian aspects in the resolution, he said the text will focus on issues within the framework of resolution 2254 adopted in December that approved the Vienna deal on settling the crisis in Syria.
U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said late on Friday he intends to reconvene peace talks on March 7 provided the halt in fighting largely holds.
Asked at a briefing Monday whether this part of the agreement could be misused to continue attacks, U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner acknowledged that setting benchmarks and monitoring the cessation of hostilities would not be easy.
In southern Syria, the situation was “calm” Saturday according to opposition activist Ahmad al-Masalmeh who is based in the southern city of Daraa.
The cease-fire is aimed at achieving a temporary “cessation of hostilities” that would bring back the Syrian government and its opponents to the negotiating table in Geneva.
Syria’s warring parties have until midday Friday to say if they are participating in the cessation of hostilities that is due to begin 12 hours later.
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The Russian President spoke by phone to leaders in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Syria in an attempt to garner support for the ceasefire, and explain its complex details.
