Jordan says ceasefire agreed in southern Syria

A ceasefire has been agreed for southern Syria between the government and rebels, a Jordanian official source said Friday, amid fears of a gathering humanitarian catastrophe in a region sensitive to neighbors Jordan and Israel.

In Washington, D.C., a State Department official said the United Sates could not confirm the truce report, and the situation in southern Syria remained “grim” with Russia and Syrian government forces continuing to bomb the area.

Hezbollah, which fights alongside Damascus, said meanwhile that a “very big victory” was near in southern Syria, where pro-government forces have made rapid gains in Deraa province.