UN Security Council endorses ceasefire in Syria

The UN Security Council unanimously endorsed a ceasefire agreement in Syria brokered by Russia and Turkey.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Saturday night unanimously passed a resolution endorsing a ceasefire in the Syrian civil war brokered by Russia and Turkey.

The ceasefire and its backing by the UNSC are both unexpected and unique in light of the stark differences between Russia and Turkey as well as between Russia and other permanent members of the Council. Russia has staunchly defended the Syrian regime while Turkey, along with the United States, the United Kingdom and France, have backed opposition factions fighting the Syrian government.

Despite their differences on Syria’s civil war, officials from both Russia and Turkey expressed cordial praises towards each other.

“A very great deal of work was done together with our partners from Turkey,” Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday during a meeting with a number of foreign and defense ministers.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry espoused a commitment towards bilateral cooperation with Russia on implementing the ceasefire. “Turkey and Russia strongly support the ceasefire and will monitor it together,” said Turkey’s Foreign Ministry in a statement.

The ceasefire will undoubtedly face the test of its ability to be upheld. Rebel factions have already claimed that the Syrian government has not fully abided by the ceasefire. Additionally, the ceasefire agreement does not include militias associated with the Islamic State and al-Qaeda, two Islamic terrorist organizations attempting to overthrow the Syrian government.

By: Jonathan Benedek, World Israel News

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