<p>This weekend the UN Security Council unanimously voted to support the Syrian peace deal that <a href="https://punchingbagpost.com/russia-declares-countrywide-cease-fire-in-syria/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Thursday.</strong></a></p>
<p>The resolution, approved on New Year&rsquo;s Eve, calls for widespread humanitarian aid throughout Syria and expects a meeting between the Syrian government and rebel representatives to occur in January. ;</p>
<p>The resolution states that a &ldquo;Syria-led political process&rdquo; is the &ldquo;only sustainable solution to the current crisis&rdquo; and reconfirms the UN&rsquo;s commitment to Syria&rsquo;s sovereignty.</p>
<p>But while the Council talks about peace, rebels warn that pro-government forces are already violating the fragile cease-fire with airstrikes on opposition-held towns in the water-rich Barada Valley region.</p>
<p>Destruction came from above Saturday, which marked the 10th consecutive day of violence ;for those living in the Barada Valley. Locals say the Lebanese Hezbollah militants &ndash; an important Assad ally &ndash; are to blame for the ongoing ;airstrikes. At least seven people have been killed in the Barada Valley region since the peace deal &ldquo;went into effect&rdquo; last Thursday.</p>
<p>Rebels have also criticized the government for signing different deals with Moscow and the UNSC. A statement released by a 11 rebel factions argues that the version signed in Ankara omits &ldquo;a number of essential and non-negotiable points.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Civil war has been raging in Syria for over six years. In 2016 alone, the fighting claimed an estimated 50,000 lives &ndash; 13,000 of which were civilians. The total death toll is estimated at about 400,000.</p>
<p>If Moscow&rsquo;s peace deal holds, the Syrian government will be expected to meet with opposition representatives for the first time in nearly a year. The meeting will take place in Kazakhstan&rsquo;s capital Astana with Russia, Iran, and Turkey as mediators.</p>
<p>Officials from Syria and Iran met Saturday in Tehran to discuss Iran&rsquo;s role in the peace deal, while Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani discussed the upcoming meeting during a phone call.</p>