A ceasefire between government forces and opposition fighters went into effect in part of central Syria on Thursday (August 3rd) after a deal was struck on a safe zone, AFP reported.

The zone in northern parts of Homs province is the third to be established in Syria, which has been ravaged by six years of civil war that have left more than 300,000 people dead.

"From 12:00 local time, units of the moderate opposition and government forces will completely stop firing," Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.

Konashenkov said Moscow and Syrian opposition groups had reached an agreement on the "operational details" of a "de-escalation zone" north of Homs at talks in Cairo on July 31st.

Under a plan hammered out in May between Russia, Turkey and Iran at peace talks in Kazakhstan, four "de-escalation zones" were to be established across swathes of Syria.

Last month, the first two zones were established in southern Syria and in the opposition stronghold of Eastern Ghouta near Damascus.

The zone in Homs province is expected to cover towns around Talbisseh, al-Houla and Rastan.

The fourth zone, in north-western Idlib province, has yet to be established.