BEIRUT — The Latest on the conflict in Syria, where a fragile cease-fire has begun but scattered violence and clashes continue:
The U.N. envoy for Syria says the situation after the first day of a U.S. and Russian-brokered cease-fire is “quite reassuring.”
Staffan de Mistura says “the first night and first day certainly gave the impression that everyone is serious in their commitment to keep on going with this cessation of hostilities.”
De Mistura said Saturday that some incidents were always expected to occur but “on the basis of five years of conflict, what I have seen so far is quite reassuring in comparison to what we saw in the past.”
He says cease-fire monitors will work to improve the way they verify incidents and prevent them from escalating.
The fragile cease-fire went into effect at midnight but scattered violence and clashes continue.
Opposition groups say they have recorded numerous violations by government forces across the country.
A Syrian rebel commander says his fighters have registered numerous government cease-fire violations and warns they could lead to the collapse of the agreement.
Lt. Col. Fares al-Bayoush, commander of the 1,300-strong Fursan al-Haq Brigade, a U.S.-backed rebel faction, tells The Associated Press that his group and others affiliated with the mainstream Free Syrian Army are so far abiding by the truce.
He says continued government breaches however will force rebel factions to retaliate.
He adds however that the cease-fire brokered by the U.S. and Russia which went into effect at midnight has sharply reduced government attacks across northern Syria where his group is based.
A top military official says Russia has grounded its warplanes in Syria to help secure a cease-fire brokered by Moscow and Washington.
“The Russian Federation has completely stopped attacks in the ‘green zone’, that is to say those areas and armed units that have sent to us requests for cease-fire,” Maj. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy said Saturday at a briefing in Moscow.
He said 17 opposition units have contacted the Russian military to adhere to the truce that became effective at midnight Friday.
Opposition activists in different parts of Syria said the situation has been “cautiously calm” since the truce went into effect at midnight Friday.
The Syrian government and 97 rebel and militant groups said they will abide by the cease-fire.

Source: The Associated Press, 27 Feb 2016