MOSCOW, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and rebel groups on Thursday agreed to a cease-fire.
The truce will come into effect at midnight Thursday. Putin made the comment during a meeting with Russian foreign and defense ministers. The Islamic State and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham -- formerly the al-Nusra Front -- are not included in the agreement.