Assad Tells Putin His Government Will Help with Syria Ceasefire
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday that his government was ready to assist in implementing a ceasefire in Syria, the Kremlin said.
The United States and Russia announced plans on Monday for a cessation of hostilities in Syria, excluding Daesh (ISIL) and Nusra Front militants, that would take effect starting on Saturday.
Putin said at the time that the ceasefire agreements between Moscow and Washington were a real step towards halting the bloodshed and can be an example of action against terrorism.
Putin and Assad, who held a telephone conversation, stressed the importance of a continued "uncompromising" fight against Daesh, the Nusra Front and other militant groups "which are included in the respective list of the United Nations Security Council", the Kremlin said. It gave no further detail, Reuters reported.
The Syrian government said on Tuesday it accepted a halt to "combat operations" that does not include Daesh (ISIL), the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, or groups connected to it, in line with a US-Russian plan on cessation of hostilities.
Damuscus said it would work with Russia to define which groups and areas would be included in the plan.
