LOC09:43
06:43 GMT
WASHINGTON, July 9 (KUNA) -- U.S. National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster reiterated late Saturday that the de-escalation zone in southwest Syria which is set to take effect on Sunday is a "priority" for the U.S.
McMaster said in a statement "at noon local time tomorrow, a de-escalation zone in southwest Syria will begin to take effect. Such zones are a priority for the United States."
"We're encouraged by the progress made to reach this agreement," he remarked.
He added that "after achieving this hopeful step" with Russia and Jordan, U.S. President Donald Trump "discussed the agreement with many world leaders at the G20 Summit" in Hamburg, Germany, including Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, British Prime Minister Theresa May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
"The United States remains committed to defeating (IS), helping to end the conflict in Syria, reducing suffering, and enabling people to return to their homes," he stressed.
He affirmed that this agreement "is an important step toward these common goals."
Jordan, the US and Russia agreed during a meeting in Amman on Friday to establish a ceasefire in southwest of Syria as of July 9, where the ceasefire will be at frontlines between the Syrian army and its allies on one side, and the armed opposition on the other.
The three countries agreed that this ceasefire should pave way for permanent de-escalation in southern Syria and thus allowed delivery of humanitarian supplies. (end)
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