In the course of the last 24 hours, ceasefire agreements have been signed with four commanders of moderate opposition units, which control Kafar, Shams and Gabagib (Daraa province). Total number of signed agreements has reached 40.
By the mediation of the Russian Federation, negotiations are continued with another 11 leaders of armed formations located in the provinces of Damascus, Daraa, Homs and Aleppo.
Results of ceasefire monitoring
In the course of the last 24 hours, 21 events of shelling of inhabited areas by militants have been registered. The most of them took place in the Daraa province (5 violations), Damascus province (4 violations), Aleppo and Hama (3 violations each).
In the Latakia province, at noon, large-caliber artillery attacked Kinsibba town. The fire was conducted from the area near the Bdama settlement from the Syrian-Turkish border. As a result of the terrorist artillery fire, 3 civilians were killed and 8 were injured. At the same location camera crews from Russia, Bulgaria, the UK, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, Canada, China and the USA which were filming reports on returning of locals to their homes after announcement of ceasefire, were also affected by the artillery fire. Four journalists were injured.
Comment: The Russian Union of Journalists called on the international community to condemn the attacks, carried out by so-called moderate rebels:
"We declare that any attack on journalists is an attack on the freedom of the citizens of the world to obtain information about what is happening in conflict regions. Attacks on journalists covering the ceasefire is yet another attempt to turn a blind eye, to silence society," the union said.
In the course of the day, militants fired multiple launch rocket systems at residential areas of Al-Sabil and Al-Mantia (Daraa province), Karia, Al-Mufakara, Shakry, As-Salmiya (Hama province). Damage is observed in these areas.
Artillery fire also engaged inhabited areas of Kub, Al-Alman-Fu (Hama province), Al-Jamaiya, Az-Zugara (Aleppo province), Zarya, Kafer-Nan (Homs province).
Near the Narb-Nafsa settlement (Homs province), militants of the international terrorist organization Jabhat al-Nusra undertook another attack against government troops.
Russian Aerospace Forces have not carried out strikes against formations which observed ceasefire and gave information concerning their coordinates to the Russian or American centres for reconciliation of opposing sides in Syria.
Comment: This is what that bastion of truth-telling, the United States, had to say (courtesy of White House spokesperson Josh Earnest):
"In recent days we have seen an overall reduction in airstrikes against Syrian opposition and civilians," Earnest stated. "However, we are concerned about reports that the Syrian regime has engaged in tank and artillery attacks against civilians near places like Latakia, Homs and Hama, and around Damascus."Guys, al-Nusra aren't civilians.
Humanitarian aid to the population of Syria
The Russian centre for reconciliation of opposing sides has delivered 6 tons of humanitarian aid to the settlements of Kineiba, Vali-Sheikhan and Hansjaus.
People received food products and bottled drinking water.
Comment: In related news, Turkey continues to shell northern Syria, claiming they are only targeting Daesh and denying Kurdish accounts that Turkey has shelled YPG positions (while in Turkey, 200 civilians in the town of Sur are under siege from regime forces); Turkey also denied Lavrov's allegation that they are sending weapons into Syria under the guise of humanitarian aid (even thought they've been caught red-handed doing exactly that); the U.S. claimed to carry out 21 airstrikes against Daesh in Syria; after apparently realizing that the 'moderate rebels' in Damascus are not so moderate, the UN now says it can't deliver the planned aid to East Ghouta; Daesh suffered heavy losses in northern Raqqa in the Syrian Army's offensive there; the UN has postponed the continuation of peace talks from Monday to Wednesday, March 9 in order to allow the ceasefire to take hold. As for regular Syrians, they have hope: