The ceasefire which has been agreed to between the Syrian government and certain rebel forces came into effect at the stroke of midnight on February 27. While the BBC reports that guns have fallen silent over major battlefields and that UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said fighting had "calmed down", the country's army continues to combat Daesh (ISIL/ISIS) terrorists and the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front.
Meanwhile, dozens of terrorists were killed and many more wounded after the army launched military operations to regain control of more key villages, town and cities in the provinces of Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Damascus, Hama and Latakia.
In Aleppo, the Syrian troops won back the strategic town of Khanaser and the key village of al-Muqayrat, in an attack that left scores of the terrorists killed and wounded.
#SYRIA Near al-Bab Su-24M bomber attacked a concentration of ISIS manpower destroying at least 10 militants & 3 SUVs with machine guns
— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) 24 февраля 2016 г.
In a major development on Friday, the Syrian Army and the NDF regained control over all settlements along a key supply route linking the northern city of Aleppo with the town of Khanaser to its southeast. A week ago, Daesh pushed to cut off the route between Hama and Aleppo. The terrorists took Khanaser but were later repelled; the Syrian Army continues to fight Daesh to the north and south of the town.
#SYRIA In the #Raqqah province, column of 10 heavy trucks with armament and munitions was destroyed on its way to Deir ez-Zor
— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) 24 февраля 2016 г.
In another development, Syrian fighter jets pounded the terrorists' positions in Haweija Saker region and three villages, Mura'yeh, Hatleh and al-Jafra, located on the outskirts of Deir ez-Zor province.
#SYRIA Near #Ithriyah (#Hama province), Su-34 bombers destroyed more than 10 militants’ strong points located on tactical heights
— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) 24 февраля 2016 г.
In the province of Daraa, the Syrian Army's artillery units launched an attack on the terrorists' strongholds in the towns of Dae'l and Tal Antar, army sources said.
The sources also reported about the terrorists suffering heavy casualties during the army's attacks on their positions in Damascus, Hama and Latakia provinces.
#SYRIA for 2 days, Rus aircraft performed 62 sorties engaging 187 targets in #Hama, #Raqqah, Deir ez-Zor, #Aleppo and #Homs
— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) 24 февраля 2016 г.
Syria has been mired in a civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting opposition factions and terrorist groups such as Daesh and the Al-Nusra Front, which are banned in Russia.
#SYRIA Russian aviation performs no strikes at those regions where willingness to cease fire and to start negotiations were expressed
— Минобороны России (@mod_russia) 24 февраля 2016 г.
In addition, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed earlier this month that advanced, super-maneuverable Su-35S multi-role fighters had begun their combat mission in Syria.
