Smoke rises from buildings following a reported air strike on a rebel-held area in the southern Syrian city of Daraa, on June 14, 2017. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

DAMASCUS, June 17 (Xinhua) -- The general-command of the Syrian army announced on Saturday a 48-hour cessation of battles in the country's southern province of Daraa, state news agency SANA reported.

The ceasefire comes as part of the Syrian army's support to the "efforts of national reconciliation," according to the report.

The cessation of battles went into effect as of 12:00 p.m. (1000 GMT) Saturday, said SANA.

It wasn't clear what caused the ceasefire to start in Daraa, given the fact that the Syrian army was heavily bombing the sites of the ultra-radical groups, which were accused of implementing a foreign plan to turn Daraa into a buffer zone between Syria and Jordan.

This comes as the UN special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistrua, announced that the seventh round of Geneva talks will take place on July 9.

Mistura said that the talks will rely on the progress made in the de-escalation zones' deal, which was internationally backed and went into effect last May.