The United States and Russia agreed to a ceasefire in Syria on Monday, coinciding with the celebration of Eid al-Adha — a Muslim holiday that commemorates when Abraham offered his son as a sacrifice for God (God stopped him). The break in fighting comes after a brutal weekend where around 90 people died, including 28 children.
Ceasefires were previously attempted in Syria, the last one taking place in February, but only lasted a few days. Russia and the United States came to this ceasefire, which is expected to last seven days, with the goal of providing aid and humanitarian assistance to areas like besieged Aleppo. Should the ceasefire hold, Russia and the United States will set up a command center where they will coordinate attacks on ISIS and Jabhat Fateh ash-Sham (formerly known as the Nusra Front), a group that recently claimed to sever its relationship with Al-Qaeda.
So far, the ceasefire recorded around 14 violations, though that isn’t uncommon and Al-Jazeera reported that most areas in Syria remained calm. The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a group that closely monitors events on the ground, said no one had died from gunfire in 15 hours. Attacks were reported in Homs, Aleppo, and Idlib after sunset on Monday — when the truce went into effect — and gunfire continues near the border but overall a military deescalation was reported.
Opposition groups view the truce through weary eyes. Trust in the Assad regime is low after more than five years of fighting and numerous broken promises. Assad released a statement from a Damascus suburb stating his army would “reclaim every area from the terrorists.” Assad’s regime considers all rebel fighters and groups to be terrorists.
The agreement between Russia and the United States stipulates that all attacks shall stop except those on territories with Nusra and ISIS presence. Locals however aren’t sure what territories are in and out of play.
The Russian and Syrian airforces hit hospitals, schools, market places, and other civilian targets repeatedly over the last year. Russia said it would keep Syrian jets away from opposition areas during the ceasefire, though it unsuccessfully encouraged the United States to include Ahrar ash-Sham and Jaish al-Islam (two Islamist rebel groups) to be added to the groups it could strike.
There is also slight confusion among locals after contradicting remarks were released by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his spokesman John Kirby.
While Kerry suggested that agreements between Russia and the United States could allow Assad’s airforce to hit certain areas, Kirby denied this prospect.
“The arrangement announced last week makes no provision whatsoever for the U.S. and Russia to approve strikes by the Syrian regime, and this is not something we could ever envision doing,” Kirby said. “A primary purpose of this agreement, from our perspective, is to prevent the Syrian regime air force from flying or striking in any areas in which the opposition or Nusra are present.”
Meanwhile, Red Cross spokeswoman Krista Armstrong told CNN “there hasn’t been a breakthrough in accessing new areas,” as security cannot be guaranteed — though supplies are prepared for civilians in besieged area once approval comes through.
The last time food was delivered to the besieged part of Deraa, a southern city, barrel bombs followed shortly after.
UPDATE: Gunfire was also reported on Tuesday on Russian troops in Aleppo, who were trying to protect the passage of humanitarian convoys into the city.