MOSCOW, March 21. /TASS/. Six violations of the ceasefire regime have been reported in the past day in Syria’s provinces of Aleppo, Latakia and Hama, the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria said on its regular bulletin posted on the official website of the Russian defense ministry on Monday.
"Over the past day, six episodes of violation of the regime of cessation of hostilities were reported. Three violations were registered in the province of Latakia, two - in the province of Hama, and one - in the province of Aleppo," the document says. "In the vicinity of the settlement of Kabtan Al Jabal, unidentified armed groups opened fire from multiple launch missile systems at positions of Kurdish self-defense forces in Aleppo’s Bashimr district."
The settlement of Itria in the province of Hama came under artillery shelling. The settlement of al-Shmaisa in the province of Latakia came under mortar fire from the settlement of Shamruran controlled by the Free Syrian Army. Ahrar ash-Sham gunmen shelled government troops’ positions near the settlement of Kermel from the village of al-Tuffahia.
"No air strikes have been delivered by the Russian air group and the Syrian air force at armed opposition group which have declared cessation of hostilities and referred their coordinates to the Russian or U.S. reconciliation centers," the bulletin says.
Russian Reconciliation Center holds 17 meetings with leaders of Syrian parties, movement
Representatives of the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria, reconciliation committees and the leaders of six political parties and movements have held 17 joint meetings over the past three days to enhance the security zone in Homs, Hama and Aleppo provinces, reads the center’s newsletter posted on the website of the Russian Defense Ministry.
"Preliminary agreements on reconciliation have been reached with representatives of three populated localities in Daraa and Damascus provinces," the newsletter said. "The number of populated localities with whose heads agreements on reconciliation have been reached has remained unchanged — 51."
Negotiations with the field commanders of two armed groups operating in Damascus province continued. "The issues of joining the cessation of hostilities were discussed," the Russian Defense Ministry said. "The number of armed groups that have declared their commitment to implementing and accepting the terms of the ceasefire — 43."
A ceasefire regime brokered by Russia and the United States on February 22 officially came into effect in Syria at midnight Damascus time on February 27. This does not cover terrorist groups such as Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, both outlawed in Russia, and other groups recognized as terrorist by the United Nations Security Council.
An hour before the ceasefire came into force, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution in support cessation of hostilities in Syria. The document was initiated by Russia and the United States and won support from all the 15 members of the United Nations Security Council.