A nationwide Syrian cease-fire brokered by Russia and Turkey that went into effect at midnight held despite minor violations, marking a potential breakthrough in a conflict that has disregarded high-level peace initiatives for over five years.
The truce came on the heels of a Russian-Turkish agreement earlier this month to evacuate the last rebels from eastern Aleppo after they were confined to a tiny enclave by a government offensive.
The United States was left out of the agreements, reflecting the deterioration of relations between Moscow and Washington after the failure of previous diplomatic efforts on Syria.
As with previous agreements, the current cease-fire excludes both the al-Qaida-affiliated Fatah al-Sham Front, which fights alongside other rebel factions, and the Islamic State group.
If it holds, the truce between the Syrian government and the country's mainstream rebel forces will be followed by peace talks next month in Kazakhstan,
"We can say part of the optimism could be related to better relation between the United States and Russia," Assad said, speaking in English.
Peace is far better, even if it is done by others. Just a thought.
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