The town is part of Eastern Ghouta, one of four areas designated as safe zones in an agreement announced Thursday. But it was unclear how the deal differed from several previous failed cease-fires in which the Syrian air force continued to bomb rebel-held areas. [Putin pushes Syrian safe zone proposals in talks with Turkish leader]A hospital was badly damaged in an airstrike in Eastern Ghouta on May 1. Turkey has also backed safe zones in the past, albeit in different areas along its southern border with Syria, viewing them as a way to block Kurdish ambitions in that region. Read more:The Russia-Turkey-U.S. tussle to save Syria will still get very messyTrump’s supporters don’t care about his flip-flop on Syria.

Source: Washington Post May 04, 2017 19:11 UTC