Would Syria ceasefire endure!

At last, the UN Security Council (UNSC) was able to adopt unanimously, but rather "reluctantly", a resolution on Saturday demanding a one-month-long ceasefire ostensibly to allow for the access of humanitarian aid deliveries and the medical evacuation of the wounded.

The resolution calls for the implementation of the truce "without delay,” for whatever that means. It has been reported that immediately after the adoption of the resolution, Syrian warplanes struck at Eastern Ghouta! The Syrian Ambassador to the UN Bashar Al Jaafari cautioned that his government would still "fight terrorism wherever it is".

So, after days and nights of wrangling that left more than 500 people dead and no less than 25,000 injured, the UNSC was able to adopt a loosely-worded resolution, which may or may not bring security and safety to the nearly 400,000 inhabitants of Eastern Ghouta.

The wording of the resolution is interesting and full of holes and ambiguities but still brings hope to the people of Eastern Ghouta for a respite from the bombings and air strikes.

The operative paragraph of the resolution "demands that all parties cease hostilities without delay" and states that the duration of the ceasefire is "for at least 30 consecutive days throughout Syria". Yet, the resolution specifically excludes the application of the terms of the ceasefire to Al Qaeda and Al Nusra Front. There is no direct mention of the Turkish intervention in Afrin in the north of the country.

Credit must be given to both French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who personally intervened with Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept the ceasefire resolution.

US President Donald Trump was noticeably absent from much of the scene surrounding the adoption of the resolution, having failed to intervene with Putin for this purpose.

The reluctance of Damascus and its key supporter Russia to endorse strongly and in good faith the just resolution raises a big question mark about its durability.

Yet, the affected Syrian people have only hope to cling to no, matter how remote are the chances of havin the ceasefire endure.