BEIRUT: Syrian pro-government forces and freedom fighters have agreed to begin a cease-fire from midday on Sunday in three battleground districts, a monitoring group and a local official told AFP.

The truce covers the two remaining villages in Idlib province in the northwest still in government hands and the rebels’ last stronghold near the Lebanese border, the town of Zabadani.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there was no immediate word on the duration of the cease-fire but the rival sides would continue negotiations for a broader truce.

“Fighters stopped military operations early this morning, but the official cease-fire will begin at noon (0900 GMT),” Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said.

Pro-government forces launched an offensive to try to recapture Zabadani in July, prompting a rebel alliance, including Al-Qaeda, to besiege the Idlib province villages of Fuaa and Kafraya, whose residents are Shiites.

A member of Zabadani town council, which has been involved in the truce negotiations, confirmed that the cease-fire was due to go into effect at noon.