In a message sent to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Assad thanked Russia for its aerial campaign that has been going on in Syria since last September upon Damascus’ request. His comments come as the cessation of hostilities is relatively holding in Aleppo, following a so-called “regime of silence” brokered by Russia and the U-S since late Wednesday. However, there are reports of intermittent firing, with the army blaming foreign-backed militants for violating the truce deal overnight. Aleppo has been the scene of fierce fighting in recent weeks before the implementation of the truce. The conflict has led thousands of residents to flee their homes, trying to seek asylum in neighboring Jordan.

Jordanian border guards say some 64-thousand Syrians are stranded at the border amid intensified violence around Aleppo. Jordan tightened security checks at the Syrian border at the start of the year. The rising number of displaced Syrians is due to the deadly war which is mainly blamed on foreign-backed militancy and terrorist activities that began over five years ago.

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At least 28 people, including women and children, have reportedly been killed in air strikes that hit a camp for internally displaced persons in Syria’s Idlib province near the Turkish border.