Ceasefire in Syria Ends Shortly After Implementation

Photo Credit: Time/William Daniels

The cease-fire which went into effect at 0600 hours on October 26 broke down within four hours of its implementation. Rebels accused the Syrian Army of attacking first, but both sides exchanged gunfire in multiple cities. A car bomb also exploded in Damascus reportedly killing five and injuring 32 others. The government responded to the violence by claiming the rebels had been responsible for breaching the negotiation. Going into the Eid al-Adha holiday, fighting between the two sides was reported not to be as intense as it was over the past months, however U.S. Department of State spokesperson Victoria Nuland stated that the department is seeking more information on the car bombing, and confirmed that the Syrian Army had used “helicopter and tank shelling” against the opposition.

Journalist and former hostage Terry Anderson released a piece in Foreign Policy honoring journalists who serve in war zones and raising awareness for former U.S. Marine Austin Tice, who is still missing in Syria. Anderson highlighted the fact that such a job is worth the risks as it allows others to “witness the violence and the horrors that war brings [and] to tell the stories of people facing terrible things.” It is believed by many, including the U.S. government, that Tice is being held by Bashar al-Assad’s regime.