Truce Deal Stops Fighting In Syria But Not With Terrorists
Armed hostilities among warring parties appeared to have silenced across northern and western parts of war-torn Syria on Saturday after the ceasefire came into effect as the Russian military suspends its air strikes against rebel-held positions in observance of the truce deal brokered by US and Russia.
The ceasefire accord was accepted by the Assad-led regime and the moderate rebel factions to allow humanitarian aid to enter the country and serve as a precondition for future negotiations that many are hoping would bring an end to the five-year civil war that has already resulted in 250, 000 dead and 11 more displaced.
"Let's pray that this works because frankly this is the best opportunity we can imagine the Syrian people has had for the last five years in order to see something better and hopefully something related to peace," said UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura as quoted by NBC News.
But the Terms of Cessation of Hostilities do not include radical jihadist groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda's Syrian affiliate al-Nustra Front. Prior to the acceptance of the truce by parties involved, Russia has already indicated that it will continue its routine air raids on 'terrorists' that included both groups mentioned above.
Nevertheless, there is a relative ongoing calm in major cities and unusual silence elsewhere except for some brief skirmishes, unexplained explosions, and sporadic violence. With fighting reduced, a Syria task force meeting is due to take place on Saturday in Geneva to monitor the progress of the temporary truce as reported by CNN.
Some pundits, however, question the viability of the temporary ceasefire in altering the political landscape toward a manageable transition in a post-Assad Syria according to a report by the New York Times. On the contrary, the unintended consequence of the truce may play well into Assad's favor by helping him consolidate his power base for a few more years amid a disunited opposition and with significant backing from Russia and Iran
