Russia halts air strikes as Syria truce takes hold

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Russia has halted air strikes in Syria in accordance with a ceasefire brokered by the country and the US.

Russia entered the Syrian conflict on behalf of ally President Bashar al-Assad in September 2015, and its air power has played a significant role in the recent major gains by government forces.

"Russia's air force fully halted bombing in the green zone - that is in those areas and those armed groups which had sent us ceasefire requests," Lieutenant-General Sergei Rudskoi, a senior representative of the General Staff, said.

A lull in fighting was reported throughout most of Syria on Saturday, hours after the US-Russia brokered "cessation of hostilities" agreement took effect.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/02/russia-halts-air-strikes-syria-truce-takes-hold-160227093526008.html

For now.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Syria truce holding 'by and large' despite tensions

The UN chief says a shaky ceasefire in Syria is holding "by and large" on its third day, despite scattered fighting and growing accusations of violations.

However, a war of words between the Syrian government and Saudi Arabia, a key backer of the opposition, has added to rising tensions.

Speaking in Geneva, Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, confirmed receiving a letter from the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), the main umbrella opposition group, complaining of continuing violations by the Syrian government and its Russian and Iranian backers.

The letter, sent on Sunday, urged the UN to help "specify the territory covered by the truce to prevent hostilities".

The opposition reported air raids on several parts of northern Syria and warned that continued violations would jeopardise the planned resumption of UN-brokered peace talks in Geneva on March 7.

Riad Hijab, who heads the HNC, said in the statement to Ban that Russian, Iranian and government forces have not stopped hostilities since the ceasefire went into effect.

He said there had been 24 instances of shelling and five of ground attacks.

He said Russian warplanes carried out 26 air strikes on Sunday alone, targeting rebels that are abiding by the truce.

Violations from all sides

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/02/syria-truce-holding-large-tensions-160229172036129.html