10 February 2017•Update: 11 February 2017
By Khaled Suleiman
HOMS, Syria
At least nine civilians were killed Friday when Syrian regime aircraft struck the Al-Waer district of Syria’s western Homs province, according to a local civil defense official.
Residential parts of the opposition-held district were hit by several airstrikes, resulting in numerous injuries and significant material damage, the official said, speaking anonymously due to security concerns.
Since 2011, Homs’ embattled Al-Waer district has remained under siege by Syrian regime forces.
Late last year, a ceasefire agreement brokered by Ankara and Moscow went into effect across war-torn Syria.
On Jan. 23 and 24, peace talks were held in Kazakh capital Astana at which participants discussed means of consolidating the ceasefire.
Led by Turkey and Russia, the talks were attended by representatives of Iran and the U.S., along with those of the Syrian regime and opposition.
In Astana, Turkey, Russia and Iran agreed to establish a joint monitoring mechanism to ensure implementation of the ceasefire.
