Syrian Army Not Returning Fire at Russian Request after Damascus Shelled


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Syrian army, following a request from the Russian center on reconciliation, did not return fire after Damascus was shelled Saturday from the regions of Ghuta and Jobar, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement Sunday.

According to the statement, the Syrian capital of Damascus was shelled six times on Saturday morning from the regions of eastern Ghuta and Jobar, where the so-called "moderate opposition" is stationed.

"The Syrian government troops did not return fire, upon the request of the Russian center on reconciliation," the statement read, Sputnik News reported.

A ceasefire between Syrian government and armed opposition forces that entered its second day is largely holding, the head of Russia's ceasefire monitoring center at the Hmeymim airbase in Latakia said Sunday.

The ceasefire went into force at 22:00 GMT early Friday, or midnight Damascus time. It does not apply to designated terrorist organizations, including Daesh (ISIL) and the Nusra Front.