RIYADH: Residents of Saudi Arabia quizzed by Arab News have welcomed the Syria cease-fire brokered by Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The US State Department earlier welcomed the signing of the new agreement, which took effect on midnight Friday.

Russia and Turkey, which brokered the nationwide Syrian cease-fire in the nearly six-year-old conflict, back opposing sides in the brutal war.

Mohsin Shaikh Al-Hassan, a Saudi Islamic scholar, TV host and author, said: “The new Syrian cease-fire signing is great news, to say the least. In fact, it’s long overdue but it’s better late than never.

“So many people have died due to the war that has caused great devastation and psychological repercussions to Syrians who have been displaced and lost relatives in the brutal conflict.”

Estimates on the number of deaths vary but the Syrian Center for Policy Research said that 470,000 died between March 15, 2011 and Feb. 11, 2016.

Al-Hassan added: “Syria is considered the base of strength of the Arab population but it’s people have suffered much and still suffering until nobody knows when.”

He added that many Syrians “who were caught in the crossfire fled their beloved country to seek haven elsewhere and the Kingdom received over 1 million of them.”

“Saudi Arabia gave them shelter and jobs so that they could fend for themselves. The Kingdom also gave education to their children who are now enjoying a peaceful life.”

Jameel Daghestani, who works as a management consultant in the Saudi capital, added that Syrians in the Arab Gulf states are happy over the lull in the fighting as a result of the cease-fire.

Daghestani is also the co-founder of the Syrian Communities in Arab Gulf Countries (SCAGC), which is a cultural association devoted to the promotion of Syrian welfare, and editor in chief of a Syrian community e-magazine.

“We’re also thrilled beyond words that the moderate opposition forces have declared their unity under one command and their acceptance of the cease-fire resolution,” Daghestani said.

He added that he hopes Russia and Turkey complete their mission and work for the removal of Syrian President Bashar Assad from power because “he ignited the war in Syria and supports terrorism and sectarianism.”

“We also seek the expulsion of all foreign militias from Syria, especially those from Iran, Iraq and Lebanese Hezbollah to enable Syrians to understand and solve their problems away from foreign interference,” said Daghestani, who comes from the city of Homs.

He took the opportunity to thank King Salman and the Saudi people for all the help the Kingdom had extended to Syrians not only in other countries like Jordan but also inside Syria itself.