With a brand new temporal truce brokered for East Ghouta and Latakia, the peace deal seems to overlook Aleppo which has been blown to smithereens by largely indiscriminate mortar shelling and airstrikes, causing many civilians to be killed in the past week.

The failure to implement a ceasefire in Aleppo comes as US officials said Aleppo was “primarily held by Nusra” (al-Qaeda) which prevents a cessation of hostilities.

Effectively, the large presence of al-Qaeda fighters seems to block a political deal which in turn paves the way for ongoing military actions inside Aleppo.

In related news, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) recently gained ground in Aleppo in a move to encircle and besiege the rebel-held districts of the provincial capital of Aleppo.