Syrian army promises to observe 4-day ceasefire

The Syrian army promised to observe a four-day ceasefire for a Muslim holiday starting today, while rebels claimed to have taken control of new areas in the key battleground of Aleppo.

In the announcement read on state TV, the army granted itself significant loopholes, saying it will respond to rebel attacks or efforts to bolster their positions as well as the entry of fighters into Syria from neighbouring countries.

The call for a four-day ceasefire for the Eid al-Adha holiday is currently the international community’s only idea on how to try to stop 19 months of violence in Syria.

International envoy Lakhdar Brahimi proposed the idea, saying he hopes it will lead to a longer-term ceasefire and negotiations between the sides. Brahimi represents the UN and the Arab League.

Rebels fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad have no unified command, and rebel reaction to the idea ranged from scepticism that the government would keep its promises to outright refusal.

Abdelbaset Sieda, head of the main opposition group in exile, the Syrian National Council, said he had little faith the regime would hold its fire, but that rebels would respond accordingly.

“We are awaiting the regime side. If they accept it, we will accept it also,” he said.

Rebel commanders inside Syria have said in recent days they did not plan to stop fighting.

The ceasefire pledge came amid rebel claims of major advances in Syria’s largest city, with the rebels claiming to have seized areas long controlled by the regime.

There has been a stalemate between the two sides for months in the fight for Aleppo.

Activists in Aleppo reported heavy clashes citywide, particularly around a military airport.

Bassam al-Dada, a rebel spokesman, said anti-regime fighters have taken several areas that have seen months of clashes, including the south-western neighbourhoods of Salaheddin and Suleiman a-Halabi.

Rebels also moved into the northern Kurdish neighbourhood of Ashrafiyeh for the first time and were fighting in Arqoub, Siryan, Zahra, and Firqan, al-Dada said.

He said rebels now control more than half of the city and were fighting for control of Aleppo’s strategic military base of Nairab.

Rebel forces have often pushed into new areas in the city in the past, only to swiftly withdraw when faced with Assad’s air power.