In the course of the last 24 hours, by the mediation of the Russian Federation, peacemaking agreement with elders of Marzaf (Hama province) has been signed. More than 600 citizens of Marzaf, representatives of the Muslim religious leaders, Syrian and foreign journalists attended the agreement signing.
Yesterday, leaders of a Jaish al-Islam grouping, which controlled Ruheiba (Damascus province) made a decision to join the ceasefire agreement.
Total number of reconciliation agreements has reached 44.
Comment: This is what Sheikh Ahmed Mubarak, the local leader in Maarzaf where reconciliation talks were held, had to say about the agreement:
"The work is very meticulous and delicate, everything here is based on religious and national matters, but overall about 30 communities have signed an application form to join the peace process and negotiations," Lt.-Col. German Rudenko told reporters.Not only are rebel groups agreeing to cease fire; entire communities are accepting to return to official Syrian governance. It looks like this cessation of hostilities has been a great way of separating the wheat from the chaff so far.
He added that the application forms include a clause on accepting the return of state power in the region.
The Russian Centre has received ceasefire application forms from 18 commanders of moderate opposition units, which are active in the Daraa province. Therefore, truce regime has spread on another 9 districts of the Daraa city.
At present time, negotiations with leaders of 5 armed formations, which are active in the provinces of Damascus, Daraa and Homs, are being held.
Results of ceasefire monitoring
Fourteen attacks on inhabited areas and positions of the Syrian government troops have been registered. There were 3 attacks in Damascus, two attacks took place in Quneitra and Latakia each, and one attack were carried out in Hama and Daraa each.
Most attacks, five ones, were registered in Aleppo.
Thus, in the districts of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiya (Aleppo), terrorists carried out 2 mortar attacks against Kurdish militia detachments.
Unidentified armed formations made mortar attack on positions of the Syrian government troops near "School of Philosophy" and Al-Nayrab airport.
Near Jarmakiya (to south-east from Aleppo), units of progovernment formations were attacked by Ahrar al-Sham militants' grouping with guns and mortars.
Comment: More details on the attacks on Kurdish and Syrian Army fighters:
Earlier, al-Nusra Front terrorists fired rockets at several mainly Kurdish-populated residential areas in city of Aleppo in northern Syria.
The group also reportedly attacked a number of Syrian army and people's militia checkpoints in Aleppo.
"The Kurds and the Syrian militia were able to repel a large attack by al-Nusra Front and Ahrar ash-Sham terrorists. Vicious battles were carried out in several neighborhoods throughout the day. According to our information, 70 militants were killed and approximately 100 were injured," the source told RIA Novosti.
Illegal armed groups operated from the territory of regions, coordinates of which were sent to the Russian party by the American partners on February 27, 2016.
Russian Aerospace Forces and Syrian Air Forces did not made strikes on armed formations, which follow ceasefire regime and informed the Russian or American Centres for reconciliation about their location.
Humanitarian aid to the population of Syria
In the course of the last 24 hours, the Russian Centre for reconciliation of opposing sides in the Syrian Arab Republic has delivered more than 4 tons of humanitarian support in Marzaf and Akebra (Hama province). The citizens received food products and bottled drinking water.
Comment: Sputnik reports:
The packages of humanitarian aid, which have been distributed to all adult residents of the towns, comprises two cans of canned fish, a can of stewed beef, two kilos of rice, peas and beans. A special version has been provided to Syrian children, which includes two kinds of candy, cookies and waffles.It hasn't been the Syrian government blockading rebel-held areas; it has been the rebels themselves.
"Almost a third of the population of Al-Qubeir has been killed by Nusra Front militants. So people are intimidated, they initially ran away when they saw us, but returned when realized that water and food was being brought to them, as well as doctors, whom they have not seen for more than three years," Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.
Additional information
Telephone negotiations have been held by representatives of 12 international humanitarian organizations active in the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic.
Specialists of the Russian Centre had a working meeting with representatives of the Ministry of the National Reconciliation of the Syrian Arab Republic. In the course of the meeting, the parties discussed issues concerning delivering the humanitarian support to the citizens of the Republic.
Comment: Today, all provinces in Syria reported a "complete blackout" of electricity (the Russian airbase in Latakia was not affected; they use their own generators). While the investigation into the cause is still ongoing, the Syrian Ministry of Electricity told Sputnik that the Al-Zara power plant of in Hama province came under rebel fire. In Iraq, Kurds are reporting that they have shot down a Turkish helicopter that was shelling them (Turkish government have refused to comment, and Turkish media are ignoring the incident).
Meanwhile, despite the success so far of the U.S.-Russia ceasefire deal in Syria, the U.S. is continuing its irrational and schizophrenic demonization of Russia. Obama has extended sanctions for another year, and the US House Foreign Affairs Committee has passed a resolution accusing Syria, Russia and Iran of war crimes, including widespread torture, rape, massacres, chemical weapons, cluster bombs, barrel bombs, deliberate targeting of bakeries, hospitals, markets and schools. Looks like the hardcore Republicans aren't very happen that the cessation of hostilities is working so far! When in doubt, just blame Putin and Assad for everything that Daesh and the moderate rebels do!