Syrian army announces 48-hour ceasefire in southern city of Deraa

The Syrian army said it would suspend combat operations in the southern city of Deraa for 48 hours from Saturday noon.

The army and Iran-backed militia forces have stepped up attacks against a rebel-held part of Deraa, but the Syrian army general command said a ceasefire will be implemented to support reconciliation efforts.

The United Nations said it wanted to start a new round of peace talks between Syrian factions on July 10 in Geneva, and Moscow said it hopes to hold talks in the Kazakh capital Astana from July 4 to 5.

Multiple rounds of talks have been brokered since 2016. More than 300,000 people have been killed in the conflicts over the past six years, the UN estimates.

(CGTN)