Syria truce 'to end Monday evening'

The Syria truce deal brokered by the United States and Russia is set to expire Monday evening at 7:00pm (1600 GMT), a senior military source in Damascus told AFP.

"The Syrian army had announced a freeze on fighting until Sunday night, but as Russia announced an extension, it will end on Monday at 7:00pm (1600 GMT)," the source told AFP.

"We do not know if the truce will be extended again," he added. 

The ceasefire deal came into force on the evening of September 12, with Syria's army announcing a freeze on fighting across the country.

The main battlefronts subsequently saw a marked reduction in violence, but clashes broke out late last week in the central provinces of Hama and Homs, as well as east of Damascus. 

The deal was further strained by US-led coalition strikes on Syrian army positions in the east that killed dozens of government soldiers. 

And on Sunday, the first air strikes since the ceasefire began hit rebel-held districts of the battleground city of Aleppo, killing one woman. 

Residents of eastern Aleppo have been waiting desperately for promised aid deliveries into their neighbourhoods.

Moscow has accused rebel groups of violating the truce and said Washington would be responsible if the cessation of hostilities broke down. 

Source: AFP