WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States and Russia, co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), led the effort to broker a ceasefire among the warring parties in Syria that took effect on February 27. The international powers charged with monitoring the ceasefire maintain that it is largely holding, despite some ongoing clashes.
"We don’t see eye to eye with Russia on everything, and I am not even talking about outside Syria, even inside what’s going in Syria. There have been and there will probably continue to be disagreements with Russia over various factors there as we move forward, but Russia has taken a leadership role inside the ISSG, and they have been helpful, and they have been cooperative," Kirby said.
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups, such as Islamic State, which is banned in several countries, including Russia.
