Opposition activists report airstrikes in northern Syria

The Syrian Civil Defence rescue service claimed that Russian jets also targeted civilian homes in a cluster bomb attack on the Idlib town of Jisr al-Shughur, killing a pregnant woman and injuring 12 others.

Right now, Meslet said, “in general it is a lot better than before (the cessation of hostilities) and our people are more comfortable”.

The truce does not include territory held by Islamic State militants or the Al-Qaeda linked Al-Nusra Front.

Also Sunday, Riad Hijab, who heads the High Negotiations Committee, an umbrella for opposition and rebel factions, said in a statement directed to United Nations chief Ban Ki-Moon that Russian, Iranian and government forces have not stopped hostilities since the truce went into effect.

Despite today’s relative calm in Syria, most worldwide observers don’t hold out much hope for the new truce agreement. This is the first time in nearly four years a nationwide cessation of hostilities has been attempted in Syria, our Newscast unit reports.

The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov and the US Secretary of State John Kerry have spoken by phone, welcoming the ceasefire and, Moscow says, discussing ways of supporting it through military co-operation.

Suspected Russian warplanes have conducted air-raids in north-western Syria on the second day of a shaky global truce.

Talal Sillo, a spokesman for the predominantly Kurdish Syria Democratic Forces, said the fighting began after midnight Friday and was still ongoing. “In fact, we are certain that there will continue to be fighting, in part because of organizations like ISIL and Al Nusra”.

At the same meeting, de Mistura announced that if the truce largely holds and humanitarian aid access continues he will reconvene intra-Syrian peace talks in Geneva on March 7.

The top Russian diplomat called on the United Nations to play the role of a central coordinator in the anti-terror efforts.

The Syrian government and 97 rebel and militant groups said they will abide by the cease-fire.

Rebels reported what they described as occasional government violations, and one commander warned that unchecked, the breaches could lead to the agreement’s collapse.

Syrian opposition said the air strikes were carried out by Russian war planes in support of Syria’s government, but the Observatory which monitors the conflict said the identity of the jets was not clear.

In the northern province of Raqqa, IS fighters attacked the border town of Tal Abyad and the nearby village of Suluk, which were captured months ago by Kurdish fighters, according to a Syrian rebel official.

If there are violations, he said, “the important point that we need to see is that if those incidents will be quickly brought under control and contained”.

Twin suicide bombings meanwhile killed six people outside the town of Salamiyeh in Hama province, where IS is present, state news agency SANA said. The extremist group, along with al-Qaida’s branch in Syria, the Nusra Front, is not party to the cease-fire, which went into effect at midnight.

Russian Federation said Saturday it had halted bombing in all areas covered by the truce.

Jihadists attacked the border town of Tal Abyad in Raqa province, sparking clashes that killed at least 70 IS members, 20 Kurdish militiamen and two civilians, the Observatory said, adding that the attack was repulsed.

Participants in a fragile ceasefire in Syria need to give peace a chance, U.S. officials said Sunday, following reports of truce violations on its second day.

However, Syrian state media said several shells had hit residential areas of the capital, Damascus.