Free Syrian Army Blames Government for Breaking 'Silent Period' in Damascus

Syrian government troops violated the period of silence in the Damascus suburbs of Darayya and Eastern Ghouta by trying to capture one area under opposition control, according to the statement of the Free Syrian Army (FSA).

DUBAI (Sputnik) — The Free Syrian Army (FSA) on Tuesday accused the Syrian government of violating the period of silence in the Damascus suburbs of Darayya and Eastern Ghouta.

On Monday, the head of the Russian Reconciliation Center in Syria urged the introduction of a “period of silence” in Ghouta and Darayya for three days starting on Tuesday. Russia also urged moderate opposition forces to withdraw from areas held by the Nusra Front terrorist group, which will continue to be targeted by Russian airstrikes.

"Within the first hour of the 'silent period', government troops violated it by trying to capture one area under opposition control, but were repelled with fire and retreated. After that, they opened machine gun fire and fired surface-to-surface missiles on the given stretch of the frontline," an FSA statement, obtained by RIA Novosti, said.

Such actions indicate the lack of a serious approach by the Syrian government to maintaining the period of silence, the statement added, accusing international mediators for government actions and vowing to end the ceasefire if the situation deteriorates.

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. A US-Russia-brokered ceasefire came into force across Syria on February 27. The ceasefire does not apply to terrorist organizations, such as the Daesh and the Nusra Front, both of which are outlawed in many countries, including Russia.