MOSCOW, March 17./TASS/. The number of armed groups stating their commitment to the ceasefire terms has reached 43, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

‘Within 24 hours, an application has been received from commander of one of the units operating in Homs province. Thus, the number of armed formations declaring their commitment to terms of a cessation of hostilities has reached 43," the ministry said in a report posted on its website.

Negotiations are in progress with the elders of two settlements in Damascus Governorate. "The total number of settlements where a ceasefire has been agreed with their leadership, has remained the same - 51," the ministry said.

9 violations of ceasefire regime registered in Syria over day

The ceasefire regime in Syria has been violated nine times over the past 24 hours, a news bulletin of the center for reconciliation of the warring sides in Syria posted on the Russian Defense Ministry’s website said.

"Three violations have been registered in each of the governorates of Aleppo, Damascus and Idlib," the document said.