Earlier on Saturday, United States, which back opposition groups, and Russian Federation, a key ally of Syrian regime, announced nationwide ceasefire in Syria, which would be held from sundown on Monday.
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Idlib province has endured escalating strikes by Russian jets in recent months, according global aid workers and residents, destroying scores of hospitals, bakeries and other infrastructure across rebel-held territory.
Reuters reports that Aleppo was also hit from the air and fighting continued on the ground on Saturday.
The army attacked rebel-held areas, pushing to maximise recent gains before a new nationwide ceasefire comes into effect on Monday. Locals said they believed the jets to be Russian.
Mr Kerry said the plan was intended “to reduce violence, ease suffering and resume movement towards a negotiated peace and a political transition in Syria”.
A Syrian opposition coalition cautiously welcomed the agreement signed today.
Recent government gains in Ramousah have re-opened the main route into the government-held west and let forces backing President Bashar al-Assad encircle the city’s rebel-held east.
High Negotiations Committee spokesperson Bassma Kodmani said the body welcomed the deal “if it is going to be enforced”. “It requires unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access to all of the besieged and hard-to-reach areas including Aleppo”, he said.
But Russia and the USA will continue air strikes against Islamist militants and have agreed to co-ordinate them.
Both sides agreed not to release the documents publicly.
Now, the two powers are lining up in an unexpected new military partnership targeting the so-called Islamic State and al-Qaida-linked militants, while trying to prod Assad and opposition groups to end a civil war that has killed up to 500,000 people and displaced millions.
Syria’s moderate Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebels say they see little chance of the new US-Russia peace deal succeeding.
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.
Washington has said indiscriminate bombing of civilians by the Syrian army would have to end under an enforceable deal.
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Fares al-Bayoush, head of the FSA’s Northern Division, says Russian Federation and Damascus had not observed the last agreement.
