BEIRUT, December 9. /TASS/. The Syrian army and armed opposition agreed on ceasefire in mountainous areas of Zabadani and Madaya (in 45 kilometers from Damascus) and two Shia settlements in the northern province of Idlib, Al Manar TV channel reported on Friday.

The ceasefire entered into force at 6pm local time and will last for 48 hours. Extremist groups Ahrar al-Sham and Jebhat Fath al-Sham (former Jebhat al-Nusra, banned in Russia) are fighting against Syrian forces in Zabadani and Madaya.

This is not the first ceasefire agreement. The sides agreed to temporarily halt military actions in 2015 and renewed the ceasefire occasionally.

Zabadani and Madaya are the last strongholds of armed groups near the Qalamun mountains on the border with Lebanon.

The settlements of Al-Fua and Kefraya in Idlib are defended by the forces of national defense. Ninety thousand residents blockaded in the cities only receive humanitarian aid by helicopters.