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Russian Syria peace deal raises rebel doubts as fighting rages

One strike in the town of Saraqeb hit a civil defense center where civilian rescuers are based, injuring several, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a United Kingdom -based monitor of the war said.

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Syrian opposition activists say intense airstrikes on rebel-held parts of the northern city of Aleppo and nearby villages and towns have killed at least 45 people.

The truce deal negotiated by US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is set to enter into force on Monday, the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. Tens of others were wounded.

President Bashar al Assad’s government made no comment on the peace deal, but Syrian state media quoted what it called private sources as saying the government had given its approval.

According to the USA secretary of state, Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad’s air force should call off all military action, including air strikes, in order to stop the spread of violence, and because “indiscriminate” bombing causes civilian suffering. “By all accounts, Assad air attacks have been the main driver of civilian casualties and migration flows” out of Syria.

He hailed the efforts of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to reach the ceasefire agreement, calling on “all parties to the Syria conflict and all countries with influence upon them to do what is needed to end violence and lift sieges”.

“We must go after these terrorists”.

“The entire agreement was reached with the knowledge of the Syrian government”, SANA said.

Footage shows the aftermath of a deadly air strikes on a busy marketplace in Syria, as both sides in the five-year conflict push to maximise gains before a breakthrough peace deal announced by the United States and Russian Federation takes force.

A leading member of the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) said the opposition umbrella group cautiously welcomed the agreement, but said it required “effective enforcement mechanisms” if any truce deal is to “credible”.

“The Syrian government (is) accountable for this blatant breach of Israeli sovereignty, the IDF (Israel defence forces) will continue to act in order to safeguard Israel and its civilians”, it added.

To be fair, the nationwide truce isn’t supposed to begin until sundown on Monday.

The new US-Russia strategy hinges on deeper cooperation between the US and Russian military against extremist groups operating in Syria, particularly ISIS and al Nusra. The United States has committed to help weaken Fath al-Sham, the extremist group that has intermingled with the US -backed opposition in places.

Rebel groups believed they are treated unfairly by the deal and complain they were not consulted about it, Malahifji said.

A previous ceasefire, brokered by the United States and Russian Federation in February, collapsed.

Lister said there is no hiding the fact that mainstream opposition forces are extensively “marbled” or “coupled” with Jabhat Fatah al-Sham forces on front lines in southern, central and northwestern Syria.

For many FSA rebels, the idea of a clear separation from Nusra is problematic because on several fronts they fight together against the army and allied Iranian-backed militias.

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Both warring sides would pull back from the strategic Castello Road in Aleppo to create a demilitarised zone, while opposition and government groups would both have to provide safe and unhindered access via Ramouseh in the south of the city.

The Latest: Activists: Intense airstrikes kill at least 45