BREAKING: A Syrian cease-fire backed by Russia and Turkey took effect at midnight Thursday

The promise for peace in Syria has been revived, after a nationwide ceasefire officially took effect on Friday at midnight, local time.

A major agreement between the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad and armed opposition groups was reached on Thursday and supported by Russia, Iran and Turkey as guarantors of the peace process. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the news after emerging as a key peace broker.