Syrian army announces ceasefire in south ahead of Astana talks

View photosFILE PHOTO: A general view shows Baath city, bordering the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Syria June 24, 2017. REUTERS/Alaa Al-Faqir/File Photo
MoreBy Suleiman Al-Khalidi
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Syrian army said on Monday it would suspend combat operations in southern Syria until Thursday ahead of a new round of peace talks in the Kazakh capital Astana, but rebels said the army had already violated the ceasefire by striking areas under their control.
The army general command sai