Syrian army assaults rebel territories despite cease-fire agreement

Syrian activists say government forces have taken a village on the edge of a large cease-fire zone encompassing rebel-held territory in northwest Syria.

A local media activist who goes by the name Obeida Hamawi says the government pushed opposition fighters out of the village of Zalaqiyat on Saturday, in Hama province, following days of fighting that killed at least 14 rebels.

Russia, Turkey, and Iran agreed on Friday to enforce a cease-fire between government and opposition forces in four areas in Syria, including one that extends into northern Hama province, where Zalaqiyat lies.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says 11 pro-government fighters were killed in the Zalaqiyat advance.

It is not clear if the agreement encompasses the village. Russia says it will publish maps by June 4.

Syria's government said it supported the proposal but added that it would continue to fight what it called terrorist groups around the country. Syrian President Bashar Assad has said previously that all the rebel groups fighting to oust him are terrorists.

Opposition groups rejected the deal, saying that special zones threatened Syria's territorial integrity, that any role for Iran was unacceptable, and that Russia had been unable to get Assad to respect previous ceasefire agreements.