Syrian govt agrees to truce deal

THE Syrian government said yesterday that it had accepted a proposed truce in the country, adding that operations would nevertheless continue against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and al Qaeda’s branch in Syria.

A Foreign Ministry statement yesterday said government forces would have the right to respond to any violation carried out by insurgents.

CBS News said the government’s statement made it clear the military offensive against ISIS, al Qaeda’s al Nusra Front, and “other related terrorist groups” would continue. Syrian leader Bashar Assad’s regime refers to all insurgent and opposition groups battling to topple him as terrorist groups.

That, explains CBS, essentially gives the Syrian forces free reign to continue attacking anyone they want — including groups backed by the United States

“In order to guarantee the success of the truce, the Syrian government asserts its readiness to continue its coordination with the Russian side to determine the territories and armed groups that are included in the truce,” the Syrian Foreign Ministry said.

The official Syrian announcement came a day after the United States and Russia agreed on a new cease-fire for Syria that is to take effect Saturday.