BEIRUT – The Syrian military says it has agreed to a nationwide ceasefire starting at midnight.
In a statement carried by state news agency SANA on Thursday, the military command “declares a comprehensive nationwide cessation of hostilities as of midnight.” State TV says the cease-fire paves the way for reactivating negotiations to end the conflict.
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It says the cease-fire comes after the “successes achieved by the armed forces,” an apparent reference to the capture of rebel-held neighbourhoods of Aleppo earlier this month.
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The statement followed on by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who confirmed a ceasefire agreement had been reached and that Russia and Turkey would act as guarantors.
Putin said the truce will be followed by peace talks between Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government and the opposition. He did not specify a date.
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The Russian military has been ordered to scale down its presence in Syria, where it provided crucial support to Assad’s forces.
Putin didn’t say how many troops and weapons will be withdrawn; however, he said Russia will continue “fighting international terrorism in Syria” and supporting Assad’s military.
Putin also said that the Russian military will maintain its presence at both an air base in Syria’s coastal province of Latakia and the naval facility in the Syrian port of Tartus.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Egypt will be invited to join the process, and that Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan could eventually join as well.
Reuters reported the countrywide ceasefire does not include Islamic State or the Kurdish YPG militia. Speaking at a news conference in Ankara following the announcement of the deal, Osama Abu Zaid, a spokesman for the Free Syrian Army rebel alliance, also said the Syrian Kurdish PYD political party would not be part of Syrian talks planned for Astana, Kazakhstan.
– With files from Reuters