Calm prevails in eastern Damascus minutes before planned ceasefire

Clam has prevailed over hotspots in the surroundings of the capital Damascus on Friday evening, as the cessation of hostilities plan will go into effect at midnight, pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV reported.

The frontlines of Jobar and Douma in the eastern countryside of Damascus were clam Friday evening, unlike the morning when heavy shelling and airstrikes were going on.

Meanwhile, a soldier in the northeastern suburb of Harasta said the situation has been calm with no shelling for over half an hour. However, he noted that there was no special military orders.

Inside the capital, the checkpoints are carefully examining passing cars, and passersby in some areas were asked to show IDs, in what appeared to be an extra measure ahead of the ceasefire.

In Aleppo, al-Mayadeen said the sound of battles were still raging.

The cessation of hostilities plan, which was agreed upon by Russia and the United States and also accepted by the Syrian government and many of the opposition rebels, doesn't include the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front and the Islamic State (IS) group, as both were designated as terrorist groups by the United Nations. That explains the ongoing battles in Aleppo, Syria's largest city and once an economic hub.

If succeeded, the truce will be the first step toward a political solution to the nearly five years conflict in Syria. Endit