Russia, US Agree Truce in Southwest Syria after Putin, Trump Talks

Making the announcement following the landmark meeting between the Russian and US presidents on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany on Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
 
 “In this zone [in southern Daraa, Quneitra and As-Suwayda provinces] the ceasefire regime will take effect on July 9 starting 12:00 Damascus time,” the Russian foreign minister said, adding “The US took an obligation that all the militant groups, located there, will comply with the ceasefire.”
 
The ceasefire was agreed to by experts from Russia, the US and Jordan, who negotiated a memorandum on the creation of a de-escalation zone in southwestern Syria at talks in Jordan’s capital, Amman.
 
"At first, the security around this de-escalation zone will be maintained with the help of Russian military police in coordination with the Jordanians and Americans,” the top Russian diplomat said.
 
The ceasefire agreement shows the US and Russia can work together on solving the Syrian crisis, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said at a separate news conference following the meeting between Putin and Trump.
 
The deal is separate from the draft agreement on de-escalation zones, which were to be created under a deal brokered earlier this year during Russia, Turkey and Iran-sponsored talks in Astana between the Syrian government and representatives of the armed opposition.
 
While the discussions on the borders and mechanisms of de-escalation zones have been ongoing this week, a final agreement has not yet been signed.
 
The US and Russia had previously negotiated a ceasefire in Syria in September 2016, but it collapsed after US jets bombed a Syrian government position, leading Moscow to wonder if the Pentagon was undermining the State Department’s efforts.
 
The conflict in Syria started in March 2011, with the government of President Bashar al Assad blaming some Western states, including the US, and their regional allies of backing Takfiri terrorists wreaking havoc in the country.