Fighting erupts in Syria as deal creating safe zones take effect

World Today

Fighting erupted in Syria between government forces and rebels. It comes just hours after a deal creating safe zones took effect.

Amateur video posted online purportedly captured the aftermath of bombings, targeting rebels in the northwest. Attacks were also reported near Damascus and in the south. 

Rebel fighters told CGTN’s Alaa Ebrahim that the Syrian army carried out airstrikes on the town of  Al-Lataminah and later advanced to take an overlooking hill in the area known as Al-Zalakiat.

 A Syrian military senior commander told CGTN his forces will abide by the agreement that creates de-escalation zones, adding that what happened in Hama province was aimed at militants from the al- Nusra Front, the affiliate of al-Qaeda in Syria.  

The military commander said the new deal will allow the army to reallocate more units to fight ISIL and move to break the radical group’s siege on the city of Deir al- Zour.  Meanwhile,  calm prevailed over most of the frontlines of the country with no airstrikes on Saturday on rebel positions in most of the designated safe zones.