The US and Russia agreed to impose a ceasefire in Syria's bloody civil war, seeking to ease the country's deepening humanitarian crisis and begin talks on a political transition that opponents of President Bashar al-Assad hope will lead to his ouster.
US Secretary of State John Kerry announced the deal with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov late Friday in Geneva after a day of negotiations. Under the agreement, fighting would be halted at sundown on September 12. If the ceasefire holds for seven days, the US and Russia would then work together to target an al-Qaeda affiliate formerly known as the Nusra Front, which in some cases has mingled with rebels that the US supports.
"If this arrangement holds, we will see a significant reduction of violence across Syria," Kerry told reporters alongside Lavrov. "After a period of reduced violence, then we will see the United States and Russia taking coordinated steps" to fight terrorists and restart a political process.
With the Syrian conflict drawing Russian, Iranian, and US forces, along with Islamic State terrorists and armed opposition groups, Lavrov said that "no one can give a 100 per cent guarantee" that the deal will hold. Kerry and Lavrov had met several times in recent weeks to try to pin down the deal. A key concern for Russia was that the Nusra Front - which recently changed its name to Jabhat Fatah al-Sham - has in many cases teamed up with moderate rebels the US supports, particularly in and around Aleppo. Kerry said the US and Russia would work to cut those rebel links with the al-Qaeda fighters.
Speaking after Kerry, Lavrov said Syria's government is aware of the agreement and has agreed to abide by it. "We and the US commit to doing everything we can to make sure all sides" fulfill their obligations, he said.
"Getting the Assad regime to comply with the Russian part and the opposition to comply with the US part is going to be a real struggle," said Andrew Tabler, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "I think it's going to be very hard for it to hold."
The relentless war in Syria has sent millions fleeing to neighbouring countries and Europe. It has also allowed Islamic State to seize territory that it has used as a base to direct and inspire terrorist attacks worldwide.
The biggest impact of the deal may be the US and Russia agreeing to cooperate militarily, something they have not done before, according to Tabler. That idea has faced scepticism from the US Defense Department and other agencies, which are wary of the US entering into any such compact with Russia.
The Russian-US plan calls for a joint operations centre with intelligence and military officials from both countries. Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said Russian commitments, including the seven days of ceasefire, must be "fully met before any potential military cooperation can occur," according to an e-mailed statement.
US Secretary of State John Kerry announced the deal with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov late Friday in Geneva after a day of negotiations. Under the agreement, fighting would be halted at sundown on September 12. If the ceasefire holds for seven days, the US and Russia would then work together to target an al-Qaeda affiliate formerly known as the Nusra Front, which in some cases has mingled with rebels that the US supports.
"If this arrangement holds, we will see a significant reduction of violence across Syria," Kerry told reporters alongside Lavrov. "After a period of reduced violence, then we will see the United States and Russia taking coordinated steps" to fight terrorists and restart a political process.
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Friday's accord is the latest effort by the US and Russia to stem violence that has killed more than 280,000 people over five-and-a-half years. A February ceasefire began falling apart within weeks, and in the months since, Russia has stepped up its support for Assad by sending its jets to bomb Aleppo and other areas controlled by rebels.
With the Syrian conflict drawing Russian, Iranian, and US forces, along with Islamic State terrorists and armed opposition groups, Lavrov said that "no one can give a 100 per cent guarantee" that the deal will hold. Kerry and Lavrov had met several times in recent weeks to try to pin down the deal. A key concern for Russia was that the Nusra Front - which recently changed its name to Jabhat Fatah al-Sham - has in many cases teamed up with moderate rebels the US supports, particularly in and around Aleppo. Kerry said the US and Russia would work to cut those rebel links with the al-Qaeda fighters.
Speaking after Kerry, Lavrov said Syria's government is aware of the agreement and has agreed to abide by it. "We and the US commit to doing everything we can to make sure all sides" fulfill their obligations, he said.
"Getting the Assad regime to comply with the Russian part and the opposition to comply with the US part is going to be a real struggle," said Andrew Tabler, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "I think it's going to be very hard for it to hold."
The relentless war in Syria has sent millions fleeing to neighbouring countries and Europe. It has also allowed Islamic State to seize territory that it has used as a base to direct and inspire terrorist attacks worldwide.
The biggest impact of the deal may be the US and Russia agreeing to cooperate militarily, something they have not done before, according to Tabler. That idea has faced scepticism from the US Defense Department and other agencies, which are wary of the US entering into any such compact with Russia.
The Russian-US plan calls for a joint operations centre with intelligence and military officials from both countries. Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said Russian commitments, including the seven days of ceasefire, must be "fully met before any potential military cooperation can occur," according to an e-mailed statement.