Two-day ceasefires underway in three Syrian towns

DAMASCUS, Syria, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Two-day ceasefires in three Syrian towns were underway Wednesday after agreements were made between rebel groups and the pro-government military forces.

The 48-hour truces in the rebel stronghold of Zabadani, on the Syria-Lebanon border, and the government-held Idlib province villages of Fuaa and Kafraya are meant to allow deliveries of food and medical supplies.

The ceasefire agreements were made between Hezbollah, Lebanese-based supporters of the Syrian government, and Ahrar al-Sham, a rebel group aligned with Nusra Front. The retreat of Ahrar al-Sham fighters from Zabadani is part of the deal, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

The truces began early Wednesday, Hezbollah's al-Manar television channel said.

Zabadani, about 45 kilometers (30 miles) from the Syrian capital of Damascus, has been a battleground for weeks, and is the last town of significance in the Qalamoun mountains, on the border with Lebanon, held by rebel forces. In July, the United Nations special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said government aerial attacks on the town caused "unprecedented levels of destruction and many deaths among the civilian population."