Agreement reached with Russia to extend Syria’s cease-fire to Aleppo

U.S. officials say an agreement has been reached with Russia to extend Syria’s fragile cease-fire to the northern city of Aleppo, where violence has escalated in recent days.

The officials say a formal announcement of the deal is expected later Wednesday. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, say the agreement was reached late Tuesday and took effect at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday Damascus time.

The officials say they have seen a decrease in violence since then but acknowledge that violations persist in some areas. The agreement on Aleppo follows an earlier deal to reaffirm the truce in the Damascus suburbs and coastal Latakia province.