US in Discussions With Russia to Extend 72 Hour Ceasefire in Syria

US Secretary of State John Kerry said that the United States is "engaged right now in ongoing discussions with various parties, including the Russians, regarding the possibility of extending" Syrian ceasefire.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States is discussing with Russia and other parties a possible extension of the 72-hour silence regime declared in Syria earlier on Wednesday, US Secretary of State John Kerry said.

The Syrian armed forces command on Wednesday announced a three-day ceasefire regime throughout the country effective on July 6.

"We welcome, very much welcome, the Syrian army declaration of a 72-hour period of quiet in celebration of and in honor of Eid," Kerry stated. "And we very much hope that it will be honored by all parties and that it will hold."

Kerry added that the United States is "engaged right now in ongoing discussions with various parties, including the Russians, regarding the possibility of extending this."

The three-day silence period, Kerry also noted, has been a matter of the International Syria Support Group’s ceasefire task force efforts.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with numerous opposition factions and Islamic extremist groups fighting the Syrian Army and other government forces in seeking to topple the legitimate government of President Bashar Assad.

A cessation of hostilities in Syria, brokered by Russia and the United States, took effect on February 27. However, the cessation of hostilities does not apply to terrorist organizations, such as the Islamic State and the Nusra Front. The former terror group, also known as Daesh in Arabic, is outlawed in Russia and numerous other countries worldwide.