DAMASCUS, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said the de-escalation zones deal proposed by Russia aims primarily to curb the bloodshed in Syria.
In an interview with the Belarusian ONT TV, Assad said the Russian initiative to create de-escalation zones in Syria was a "right idea that Syria has supported from the beginning."
Last Saturday, the de-escalation zones deal went into effect coupled with a six-month-long ceasefire.
The deal was reached by Russia, Iran and Turkey.
According to the agreement, the government and opposition forces will halt fighting for six months in four zones, in the northwestern province of Idlib part of Aleppo countryside, the central province of Homs, the Eastern Ghouta countryside of Damascus, and areas in the Daraa and Qunaitera provinces in southern Syria.
Under the deal, the safe zones, or de-escalation zones, will be free of battles and airstrikes, but the battles against terror-designated groups will continue.
By June 4, guarantors of the deal will establish the exact borders of the zones, according to Russia's Defense Ministry.
In his interview aired Thursday and published by state news agency SANA, Assad said the deal has many benefits, mainly protecting the civilians, and giving the rebels a chance to separate themselves and dislodge terror-designated groups such as the Islamic State (IS) group and the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front from such zones.
Assad said the deal is in place until a political solution is reached between his government and the rebel factions.
Meanwhile, Assad warned that the Syrian army and its allied forces will retaliate against any breach from the rebels.
