US and Russia-brokered ceasefire agreement comes in effect across Syria

US and Russia-brokered ceasefire agreement comes in effect across Syria

United States and Russia brokered a ceasefire which went into effect across Syria on Saturday, marking the biggest international push to reduce violence in the country's devastating conflict. However, the Islamic State group and al-Qaida's branch in Syria, the Nusra Front, were excluded. With this agreement in force, hopes are rife to bring representatives of the Syrian government and the opposition back to the negotiating table in Geneva for talks on a political transition. The U.N.'s envoy, Staffan de Mistura, announced that peace talks would resume on March 7 if the cessation of hostilities "largely holds.

" If indeed the Syrian government and opposing rebel coalition sit across face-to-face for negotiations, it would be the first time international negotiations have brought any degree of quiet in Syria's five-year civil war. But success requires adherence by multiple armed factions and the truce is made more fragile because it allows fighting to continue against the Islamic State group and Nusra Front, which could easily re-ignite broader warfare. The Syrian government and the opposition, including nearly 100 rebel groups, have said they will abide by the ceasefire despite serious scepticism about chances for success. Speaking to reporters in Geneva after the truce took hold at midnight, de Mistura said initial reports indicated that within minutes both Damascus and the nearby rebel-held town of Daraya suddenly "had calmed down." He said there was a report of one "incident" that his team was investigating but did not give details. Opposition activists on the ground also reported early adherence to the truce. Less than an hour before the truce was set to begin, the 15-member Security Council unanimously endorsed the agreement worked out between the United States and Russia. De Mistura told the Security Council via video conference from Geneva that he hoped the ceasefire would provide a chance for humanitarian aid to reach those battered by Syria's brutal war and allow for a political solution.