Syria’s army said Thursday it would halt all military operations from midnight, under a deal brokered by Russia and Turkey.

“The general command of the armed forces announces a complete halt to all hostilities on Syrian territory from the zero hour of December 30th,” Syria’s army said in a statement carried on state television.

It added that the halt excluded combat against the ISIL group and the former Al-Qaeda affiliate previously known as Al-Nusra Front, now rebranded the “Fateh al-Sham” Front.

A previous truce was implemented in February, with both of those deals organized by Russia and the United States.

Today’s agreement is the first nationwide ceasefire brokered with the involvement of Turkey, a key supporter of the foreign-backed militias operating in Syria.

Despite backing opposing sides in the conflict, and a souring of relations after Turkey shot down a Russian warplane last year, Ankara and Moscow have worked increasingly closely on Syria.

Source: Agencies