Heavy air strikes were reported to have hit rebel-held areas near Damascus as fighting raged across much of western Syria on Friday, hours before a U.S.-Russian plan aimed at halting hostilities was due to take effect.<br />The government has agreed to the plan.<br />The main opposition alliance, which has deep reservations about the terms, has said it is ready for a two-week truce to test the intentions of the government and its Russian and Iranian backers, and a source has said that the "vast majority" of the groups accepted the deal.<br />The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring organization reported at least 26 air raids and artillery shelling targeting the town of Douma in rebel-held Eastern Ghouta near Damascus.<br />Damascus has made clear it will continue to target Islamic State and the Al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front which are not included in the agreement on the air strikes.
