Calm at start of Syria holiday ceasefire

Beirut:  Syria was calm early on Friday after the country's army and main rebel force said they had agreed to a ceasefire for the four-day Muslim holiday of Eid Al Adha, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The calm had settled following a night of heavy fighting across the country, the watchdog group said.

Earlier, Syria's army command said it will suspend military operations to mark Eid Al Adha, declaring a ceasefire from Friday morning to Monday but saying it reserved the right to respond to rebel attacks and bombings.

It said it would also respond to "terrorist groups trying to reinforce their positions by arming themselves and getting reinforcements" as well as neighbouring countries facilitating the smuggling of fighters across borders during that period.