Syrian villagers hope for calm as Russia keeps eye on truce MAARZAF, Syria — Just days into a U.S.-Russia-brokered cease-fire, many residents in a pro-government Syrian village long engulfed in fierce fighting in a central province expressed hope Wednesday that the truce will prevail and that a sense of normalcy could soon return. But the cease-fire is partial and though as such it has mostly held across the war-wrecked nation, it excludes the Islamic State group as well as Syria’s al-Qaida branch, known as the Nusra Front, and other militant factions that the United Nations considers terrorist organizations. In a stark reflection of those limitations, a car bomb killed 18 commanders of a U.S.-backed rebel group on Wednesday, a serious blow to the rebels, while Syrian Kurdish-led forces took strategic ground in Aleppo province from the Nusra Front, in a surprise offensive aimed at encircling the provincial capital. Russia’s Defense Ministry, in a bid to secure the cease-fire, said it has set up a coordination center that includes several dozen officers who visit opposition groups and local communities to help negotiate local truce deals. On a trip to central Syria organized by the Russian government Wednesday, an Associated Press team saw one such document being signed in the village of Maarzaf, about 9 miles west of the city of Hama, the provincial capital. While the city of Hama has been firmly under the Syrian government control throughout the five-year conflict, other parts of Hama province have seen intense fighting. The town of Salamiyeh, on the northern edge of the province, has been a front line between government forces and Islamic State fighters.

NEXT
Sections:  u.s.   
Topics:  Georgia   Chatham County   Augusta   
RELATED ARTICLES
  • Savannah River Site resumes normal activity
    A suspicious item was discovered Wednesday afternoon at the Savannah River National Laboratory, which prompted emergency response activities. Following a thorough investigation, the suspicious item was determined to be non-threatening and Savannah River Site has returned to normal operations, according to a news release. More
  • South Carolina escapee captured in Columbia County
    A prisoner who escaped from a South Carolina corrections facility was arrested in Appling after a passerby reported the man fighting with a woman on the side of the road. According to a news release from the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, police responded to the 6400 block of Cobbham Road around 11 a.m. More
  • Pipeline hearing set for Thursday in Evans
    The committee to evaluate petroleum pipelines in Georgia will hold a public hearing in Columbia County on Thursday. The hearing at 10 a.m. in the auditorium of Building A at the Evans Government Center Complex at 630 Ronald Reagan Drive is the second of three the Joint State Commission on Petroleum Pipelines are holding. More
  • Columbia County seeks woman who searched through wallet
    The Columbia County Sheriff's Office is seeking a woman for questioning after surveillance footage showed her searching through a lost wallet before turning it in. read more More
  • How to minister to undocumented immigrants
    There's a mantra...Read more More

 

NEXT
Welcome to Wopular!

Welcome to Wopular

Wopular is an online newspaper rack, giving you a summary view of the top headlines from the top news sites.

Senh Duong (Founder)
Wopular, MWB, RottenTomatoes

Subscribe to Wopular's RSS Fan Wopular on Facebook Follow Wopular on Twitter Follow Wopular on Google Plus

MoviesWithButter : Our Sister Site

Movies With Butter More Movie News

More U.s. News

  • Bruins top Panthers with 2 seconds left in OT after Reinhart forces extra time with goal with 3 seconds left
    South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Saturday - 01/11/2025 - 04:30 PM

    SUNRISE — David Pastrnak scored a power-play goal with 2 seconds left in overtime and the Boston Bruins snapped a six-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over the Florida Panthers on Saturday. It was the second goal of the day for Pastrnak, who has six in his last five games.

    More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
  • Former UCF players showcase talents in Hula Bowl
    South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Saturday - 01/11/2025 - 04:22 PM

    Ricky Barber heard his name echo throughout the Bounce House one last time. It had been over a month since the former UCF defensive tackle last stepped onto the field at FBC Mortgage Stadium during his final game with the Knights. However, he returned to participate in the Caribe Royale Orlando Hula Bowl on Saturday. Barber went out in style, recording 2 tackles, 3 pressures and a sack, drawing a huge cheer from the crowd. “I heard the Bounce House [announcer] go, ‘Ricky Barber,’ and it was just one of those moments,” Barber said of his sack of former Elon quarterback Matthew Downing in the second half.

    More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
  • Heat brace for two-game trip to fire-swept Los Angeles; Spoelstra mum on Butler workouts
    South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Saturday - 01/11/2025 - 03:32 PM

    PORTLAND, Ore. — In the wake of recent postponed NBA games in Los Angeles, the Miami Heat as of Saturday remained on schedule to travel and play there on Monday night against the Los Angeles Clippers and Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers. Amid that schedule, coach Erik Spoelstra said ahead of Saturday night’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center that concerns about his team’s preparations pale in comparison to the fires that have burned communities to the ground and displaced tens of thousands. “We’ll be able to handle whatever we need to handle,” Spoelstra said after his team’s morning shootaround.

    More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
  • Orchid Renaissance is in full bloom in Pembroke Pines | PHOTOS
    South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Saturday - 01/11/2025 - 03:08 PM

    Segundo Cuesta helps take down an orchid during the Orchid Renaissance at the Charles F. Dodge City Center, in Pembroke Pines on Saturday Jan. 11, 2025. It is the 65th annual orchid show for Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society, and will continue Sunday 1/12/25 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)Plants are on display, and for sale during the Orchid Renaissance at the Charles F.

    More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
  • Former NFL linebacker Jon Bostic hoping to build IMG Academy-style school in Wellington
    South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Saturday - 01/11/2025 - 01:38 PM

    WELLINGTON — Near the polo fields that give Wellington its international fame, Jon Bostic is hoping to turn the village into another type of sports hub. The Palm Beach Central alumnus and former Florida Gators and NFL linebacker unveiled plans for an athletics center in his hometown last year, breaking ground in September.

    More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
  • Dave Hyde: Tyreek Hill wants out? Dolphins better off trading one high-priced receiver anyhow
    South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Saturday - 01/11/2025 - 01:15 PM

    If Tyreek Hill wants out, there’s the door. If the Miami Dolphins receiver wants to be traded, find a trade. There’s a plane leaving town every few minutes. Nobody’s going to miss him too much if he’s on one. Two personally good years don’t give Hill carte blanche to be a constant off-field headache in his third year: Arriving late for meetings; blaming the coach for his dropped catches; quitting on his team by refusing to re-enter a game; throwing a diva tantrum in wanting to be traded — “I’m out, bro”; and contributing to his position coach, Wes Welker, being fired on Friday. Forgiving media and his agent say Hill doesn’t really want to be traded.

    More | Talk | Read It Later | Share