Moscow Concerned Over Refusal of Some Syrian Opposition Groups to Uphold Truce

Moscow welcomes official confirmation from the Syrian government on honoring new ceasefire regime, and expresses serious concern over refusal by some Syrian opposition groups to respect it, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Monday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The ministry also expressed hope that Washington would pressure on “moderate opposition” forces in Syria and make sure they would respect and implement the new agreement brokered by Russia and the US.

“At the same time the most serious concern is the reaction of some of the armed groups of the Syrian opposition, the largest of which — "Ahrar ash-Sham" – refused to follow US-Russian agreements and expressed its unwillingness to break with their "comrades in arms" from Jabhat Fatah al-Sham group,” the ministry said in a statement.

On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry announced a new plan aimed at reducing violence in Syria, which includes a week-long ceasefire that is expected to evolve into a permanent cessation of hostilities.

The agreement also includes the creation of a demilitarized zone around Syria's Aleppo to deliver humanitarian aid to the city, as well as close coordination of Russian and US airstrikes against the Jabhat Fatah Al-Sham, formerly known as Nusra Front, and Daesh terrorist groups operating in Syria.