| CNN | - |
(CNN)
The Russian military has halted airstrikes in areas of Syria as part of
a cessation of hostilities agreement, state media reported Saturday.
Russia suspends airstrikes in some Syrian areas as truce goes into effect
Truce in Syria to take effect 02:20
Story highlights
- Shelling reported in Damascus despite ceasefire
- Russia halts airstrikes in some areas
- Cessation of hostilities takes effect in Syria
(CNN)The
Russian military has halted airstrikes in areas of Syria as part of a
cessation of hostilities agreement, state media reported Saturday. But
sporadic violence between militants and some rebel groups was reported
around the country -- although it appeared to have diminished
significantly.
Russia has stopped attacks on armed groups included in the temporary truce, defense ministry official Sergei Rudskoi said.
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Terrorist
groups involved in the clashes, including ISIS and al Qaeda-linked
al-Nusra Front, are not part of the truce agreement.
Multiple shells hit Syrian capital Saturday, the government-run news agency reported.
The shelling came from rebel-controlled neighborhoods in the capital, a military source told the news agency.
The
source said the mortar shells came from the neighborhoods of Jubar and
Duma, and called on Syrians living in those rebel-held neighborhoods to
help stop the shelling.
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"We
call on the residents of these neighborhoods to put pressure on these
terrorists and do not give them the opportunity to spoil the efforts to
return stability and security to these areas," the military source told
the news agency.
The London-based
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported the incidents of
violence, but said things are quieter in general.
It
said there were clashes between regime forces and rebels in Latakia,
and other incidents of violence between government forces and ISIS
fighters in Aleppo.
In Latakia, 12 rebel fighters were killed in clashes with government forces, according to the observatory.
ISIS, rebels clash
ISIS fighters also clashed with other rebel groups in Aleppo and Homs, the observatory said.
And ISIS used Twitter to claim responsibility for a suicide attack Saturday near the town of Salmiya, in Hama province.
The statement said the attack targeted regime forces gathering in Hama's suburbs.
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Nevertheless,
initial indications showed violence was significantly reduced -- a
relief to Syrians living in the rubble of bombed-out cities.
U.N. special envoy Staffan De Mistura said reports indicated "suddenly both Daraa and Damascus had calmed down."
An
unusual quiet has descended on major cities in Syria, said Rami
Abdulrahman, director of the SOHR. He did note there were brief
exceptions, including some unexplained explosions reported in the north.
But nobody expects peace to settle over the nation overnight, De Mistura said.
If
there are violations, he said, "the important point that we need to see
is that if those incidents will be quickly brought under control and
contained."
'Our best chance'
Another
Syria task force meeting will take place Saturday afternoon in Geneva
to assess whether the truce is being respected, De Mistura said.
The cessation of hostilities is considered by some to be the most hopeful sign in years that fighting in the nation, where the conflict has killed at least 250,000 people, will subside.
Earlier
Friday, the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously in favor of a
resolution backing the halt in fighting and asking for all parties to
abide by the terms of the cessation.
A
main Syrian opposition group, the High Negotiations Committee, said 97
of its factions agreed to respect the two-week truce that starts with
the cessation of hostilities. But it warned the government and Russia
not to target it under the pretense of attacking terrorist groups such
as ISIS and al-Nusra Front.
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