5 breaches of cessation of hostilities agreement during the past 24 hours

Lattakia – The Russian Coordination Center at Hmeimeem airport said on Monday that 5 breaches of the cessation of hostilities by terrorists were observed in Syria during the past 24 hours, SANA reported.

“4 breaches took place in Lattakia and 1 in Homs,” the Center said in a statement.

The statement added that the total number of breaches by terrorist organizations reached 271 since the cessation of hostilities agreement came into force on February 27th, 2016.

During the last 24 hours, the Center held communications with a variety of figures in 6 towns in the countryside of Lattakia, Damascus and Daraa about the cessation of hostilities and providing humanitarian aid to the residents.

The Center said that the mayors of two towns in Hama agreed to join the cessation of hostilities agreement, bringing the number of towns that joined the reconciliation agreement to 51, while the number of armed groups that have declared their commitment to the cessation of hostilities agreement reached 43 groups.

The Center confirmed that the Syrian and Russian air forces have not carried out any airstrikes on armed groups that have declared their commitment to the cessation of hostilities.

The Center said a meeting was held between representatives of the Center and the Ministry of National Reconciliation Affairs in which the two sides discussed issues related to aid provision to the residents of Damascus Countryside, noting that a new aid convoy will be sent to the people of Babbila area.

The Center revealed that a new phone conference was held with the US coordination center in Amman during which the two sides exchanged information about violations of the cessation of hostilities and the obstacles to the delivery of humanitarian aid to Damascus Countryside, adding that the two sides pointed out the number of violations with heavy weapons has decreased.

In a relevant context, Colonel General Alexander Dvornikov, commander of the Russian group of troops in Syria, said that the success of the military operation against terrorists was based on the concerted action of the Russian Air Force and the Syrian armed forces on the ground.

Meanwhile, Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that establishing control on Palmyra will open way towards Raqqa and Deir Ezzor and avail conditions for controlling borders with Iraq.

“An efficient number of Russian forces will remain in Syria to observe the cessation of hostilities in addition to the tasks in Hmeimem and Tartous bases,” the Ministry added.