In the hours leading up to the declaration of a partial ceasefire in Syria, residents in Damascus expressed their hope that it will hold.

Syria’s government and most of the rebels groups have signed up to the joint Russian Turkish initiative.

One man said it was “a brave decision.” “All of us in Syria were waiting for such a decision. We wish it will be permanent, because we believe there has been enough bloodshed in Syria – in all of the country,” he said.

“The ceasefire would mean saving lives, and this would be a good decision for our country,” another man said.

In the town of Azaz, which is held by moderate rebels backed by Turkey, the reaction was mixed. One man said he was “completely against it”.

“The brigades that are united in the ceasefire will not be united in war, they will be divided. I’m against the ceasefire, because our main aim was to get rid of Bashar al-Assad and Bashar al-Assad will remain,’‘ Mohamad Kepa said.

And for now, since neither ISIL nor the main al-Qaida linked group have signed up to it, the ceasefire is very unlikely to stop the fighting altogether.