What We Know About the Syrian Ceasefire Announced by Putin
Russia and Turkey say Syrian government forces and rebels will begin a truce at midnight on December 30. Other details are thin.
Updated at 10:05 a.m. ET
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday the Syrian government and rebels opposed to President Bashar al-Assad have reached a ceasefire to end the fighting in the more-than-five-year civil war.
Here’s what we know so far about the agreement—and its potential implications:
Who is involved?
The Syrian government and, according to Russia’s defense minister, seven armed groups who command about 60,000 fighters. The the groups as Feilak al-Sham (4,000 fighters), Ahrar al-Sham (16,000), Jaysh al-Islam (12,000), Thuwar al-Sham (2,500), Jaysh al-Mujahideen (8,000), Jaysh Idlib (6,000), Jabhat al-Shamiyah (3,000). Ahrar al-Sham and Jaysh al-Islam are both Islamist groups that Russia has previously labeled as terrorists.
