MOSCOW, March 17. /TASS/. In the past 24 hours, the Syrian government forces liberated eight settlements from militants of the Islamic State terror group (outlawed in Russia), the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the opposing sides said in an information bulletin on Friday.
"The number of settlements liberated from militants of the Islamic State international terror group by the Syrian government forces has grown to reach 181," the bulletin reads.
Besides that, agreements on joining the ceasefire were signed with representatives of Basyr and al-Qunniyah in the Daraa Governorate as well as Bshaquh in the Latakia Governorate. Thus the number of settlements joining the ceasefire has grown to 1,356.
In the past 24 hours, Russian officers recorded six ceasefire violations in Syria: three in the Damascus Governorate, one in the Aleppo Governorate, one in the Latakia Governorate and one in the Hama Governorate. At the same time, Turkey’s representatives recorded 11 ceasefire violations (four in the Daraa Governorate, three in the Damascus Governorate, two in the Hama Governorate, one in the Idlib Governorate and one in the Homs Governorate). However, Russia did not confirm these ceasefire violations, the bulletin adds.
A nationwide ceasefire in Syria took effect on December 30, 2016. The government troops and the armed opposition groups joined the ceasefire which does not apply to terror groups active in Syria.