The U.S. and Russia brokered a tentative ceasefire in Syria with nods from both the Opposition and Bashar al Assad-led government side on Friday. The ceasefire is expected to be in place for seven days starting from sunset on Monday.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov engaged in a 13-hour long talk in Geneva before they came to an agreement. While Syrian government forces have said that they would loosen their control on Aleppo, rebels have said that they would stop attacking government buildings starting Monday, which also happens to be Eid al-Adha.
"Today the United States and Russia are announcing a plan which we hope will reduce violence, reduce suffering and resume movement toward a negotiated peace and a transition in Syria ... that if followed, has ability to provide a turning point, a moment of change," said Kerry.
"The cessation of hostilities requires access to all besieged and hard-to-reach areas, including Aleppo."
The United Nations will be carrying humanitarian aid to Aleppo after the cessation of hostilities.
Russia will do "what depends on us," Lavrov said. However, he added that "not everything does."
No one is building this based on trust. It is based on oversight, compliance, mutual interest," Kerry said. "This is an opportunity, and not more than that until it becomes a reality."
Most of the details will be a secret as many others might attempt to sabotage the crucial deal, Lavrov said. However, some information about it is available.
Syrian forces will stop airstrikes across the length and breadth of the country, which has killed hundreds of people in the last few months alone. The U.S. and Russia will work together to eliminate the al Nusra front and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
A cessation of hostilities agreement brokered by the U.S. and Russia in February 2016 had ended with Assad and the rebels not agreeing to the terms of the deal. The main issue while lobbying for peace in Syria has been its political future. Assad has been unwilling to vacate his position despite numerous charges against him of targeting civilians.
Meanwhile, rebels have been severely opposed to Assad's rule. On the other hand, Isis and al Nusra have taken advantage of the political unrest in the country and taken over parts of it. More than 4,00,000 people have died in the five year long crisis.
