MOSCOW, July 25. /TASS/. Reconciliation agreements were signed during the day with representatives of nine more settlements in the Syrian provinces of Latakia and al-Suwayda, the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring parties said in its regular daily news bulletin posted on the Russian defense ministry’s website on Monday.
"The number of settlements joining the reconciliation process has reached 218," the center said.
"Talks on joining the regime of cessation of hostilities were continued with field commanders of armed opposition groups in the provinces of Aleppo, Damascus and Hama. The number illegal armed groups that declared their commitment to the ceasefire terms remains unchanged - 61," the center said.
Apart from that, according to the Russian center, more humanitarian aid was delivered to Syrian population. A total of 14 tons of humanitarian cargoes, mostly flour, rice, canned meat and fish, were delivered to low-income families in the settlements of Al-Aftan in the province of Hama and Rsas in the province of al-Suwayda.
A total of 15 tons of United Nations humanitarian cargoes - cereals, sugar and salt - were dropped from a Russian Abakan Air plane to the Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor besieged by Islamic State terrorists, as follows from the bulletin.
The Russian reconciliation center aims to assist armed groups in Syria in concluding ceasefire agreements, maintain the truce regime, control its observance and organize the delivery of humanitarian cargoes to civilians.
Six ceasefire violations reported in Syria in past day
The ceasefire regime has been generally observed over the day in most of Syria’s provinces, with six violations reported in the provinces of Damascus and Idlib.
"Units of the Jaysh al-Islam group which affiliates itself with the opposition conducted mortar fire at the settlements of Jobar, Arbil, al-Nashabiya, Douma and Haush al-Fara in the province of Damascus. Militants of the Ahrar al-Sham shelled the settlement of Fua in the province of Idlib from multiple missile launcher systems," the center said.
No air strikes were delivered by the Russian air group and the Syrian air force at armed opposition group which have declared cessation of hostilities and informed the Russian or U.S. reconciliation centers about their locations, as follows from the bulletin.
Apart from that, according to the Russian center, groups constituting the international terrorist organizations Jabhat al-Nusra and Islamic State (both outlawed in Russia) continue attempts to break down the regime of cessation of hostilities, the bulletin says. "During the day, terrorists conducted fire from self-made multiple missile launcher systems and mortars at Aleppo’s districts of al-Khalidiyah, Sheikh Maksoud, and al-Zahra, and at the town of Tell Jobegja. Terrorists also shelled the settlements of Haush al-Fara, al-Bakhariya, Huteita al-Jarash, Jobar, Douma, Arbil and Abd Beinuri in the province of Damascus," the center said.
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.
The Russian reconciliation center aims to assist armed groups in Syria in concluding ceasefire agreements, maintain the truce regime, control its observance and organize the delivery of humanitarian cargoes to civilians.