Syria: Russia, militants reach agreement to reopen Homs-Hama highway

The Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria and militant groups have reached a ceasefire agreement which allows the reopening of the M-5 Homs-Hama highway, a well-informed military source said on Tuesday.

The source said that a delegation from the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria traveled to Northern Homs to meet with militant groups’ commanders earlier today.

The meeting was held in the town of Dar al-Kabira in Northern Homs, the source said, adding that new revelations confirm that five militant commanders from various groups attended the talks although the outcome of the negotiation is yet to be revealed.

The Russian Army is to establish checkpoints along the M5 Highway to allow trade to flow more easily between the cities of Hama and Homs.

Relevant reports said last month that the government troops in Central Syria captured a strategic point during the military operations near the town of al-Quaryatayn in Southwestern Homs.

The army units earned control of the last strategic hill in Jabil mountain, overlooking al-Quaryatayn South-West of Homs province after clashes with the ISIL.

During the operations, the army troops killed a number of ISIL terrorists and seized a large number of weapons and equipment.

Meantime, the Syrian fighter jets launched airstrikes on ISIL positions near the town, inflicting considerable casualties on the terrorists.