Syrian army declares nationwide cease-fire

The Syrian army on Thursday declared a nationwide cease-fire that will go into force as of midnight Friday, Dec. 30, state TV reported Thursday.

The cease-fire will exclude the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front and the Islamic State (IS) group, both designated as terrorist groups by the United Nations, said a Syrian army statement.

The cease-fire came after the successes and victories achieved by the Syrian army on several fronts, the statement said.

It wasn't the first time that a nationwide cease-fire was agreed in Syria, but earlier ones eventually failed.

The first intermittent cease-fire was declared last February and was renewed for some time.

The Syrian army's declaration of cease-fire on Thursday reflected an agreement reached Wednesday between Russia and Turkey for a nationwide cease-fire in Syria, whose details are yet to be made public.

Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed on Thursday that an agreement has been reached on a Syrian cease-fire, noting that Russia and Turkey will act as its guarantors.

source: Xinhua