Syrian army declares a 72 hour nationwide truce

Syria's military has declared a unilateral, three-day cease-fire for the entire country. The announcement comes at the start of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

State media say the cease-fire began on Wednesday and is to last until midnight on Friday.

If it holds, this would be the first truce since a US-Russia-brokered "cessation of hostilities" came into effect on Febuary 27.

That agreement, which excluded militant groups such as the Islamic State, sharply reduced violence across the country for weeks.