DAMASCUS, July 10 (Xinhua) -- The U.S.-Russian-backed cease-fire in southern Syria is still holding, amid battles against the Islamic State (IS) group, a well-informed source told Xinhua on Monday.
The cease-fire, which went into effect on Sunday, covers the provinces of Daraa, Sweida, and Qunaitera in southern Syria.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor group reported breaches to the cease-fire, accusing the government forces of firing mortar shells on areas in the northeastern countryside of Daraa, without reporting losses.
It also reported clashes between the Syrian army and the rebels in the northeastern countryside of Sweida.
However, the source told Xinhua that the Syrian army launched a "major operation" in the northeastern countryside of Sweida.
He added that the offensive enabled the army to capture "large numbers" of villages and hilltops.
Still, the source noted that the battle was against the IS militants, not regular rebels, as IS and the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front are excluded from the cease-fire.
In Daraa, the source said the situation is "very good."
On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States and Russia had reached cease-fire agreement to quell fighting in southwest Syria.
He said the agreement, if it holds, may be a blueprint for other parts of the country. "This area in the south is our first show of success. We hope we can replicate that elsewhere," he said.
The cease-fire is part of the de-escalation zones' deal, which went into force last May in four Syrian areas including the southern part of Syria, where battles flared up again, prompting the United States and Russia to agree to a cease-fire.
