Warplanes strike in Damascus suburbs before Syrian ceasefire

Warplanes yesterday unleashed air strikes on the suburbs of the Syrian capital Damascus and near the rebel-held city of Aleppo, hours before a ceasefire brokered by the US and Russia was due to go into effect at midnight.

The barrage came as the main Syrian opposition and rebel umbrella group said dozens of factions, 97 groups in all, have agreed to abide by the ceasefire across the war-ravaged country.

The High Negotiations Committee said a military committee has been formed to follow up on the ceasefire.