Syrian government, SDF agree on a four-day ceasefire

"It also said it had asked the SDF to provide the name of a candidate for the role of assistant to the defence minister in Damascus, as part of efforts to integrate the Kurds into the Syrian state. The SDF confirmed it had accepted the ceasefire and said it would not engage in any military action unless attacked. We also affirm our openness to political paths, negotiated solutions, and dialogue,"

"However, shortly after the ceasefire came into effect, the SDF claimed that government-allied groups were launching an attack, using heavy weapons, on the village of Tal Baroud, along the Abyad road, south of Hasakah. According to the SDF's spokesperson, Farhad Shami, the town of Zarkan has been under intense artillery shelling in recent hours by Damascus-affiliated factions. He said that government-allied forces have also attacked al-Aqtan Prison north of Raqqa, using five suicide drones and heavy gunfire."

A four-day ceasefire was announced by the Syrian Army and came into effect at 20:00 local time. The government asked the SDF to name a candidate for assistant defence minister in Damascus as part of integrating the Kurds into the state. The SDF accepted the ceasefire and pledged not to engage militarily unless attacked, while expressing openness to political paths and implementation of the January 18 agreement to support de-escalation and stability. Shortly after the truce began, the SDF reported attacks on Tal Baroud, intense shelling of Zarkan, and an assault on al-Aqtan Prison using suicide drones and heavy weapons. The Syrian government rapidly advanced and seized SDF-held territory and said its forces began taking control of the al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria.

Read at www.aljazeera.com