Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Jordan and Russia said a ceasefire deal in south-western Syria has been “successful” and will lead to a safe zone being established there.

The agreement reached in July and covering Deraa, Quneitra and western Suwaida, was brokered by the US and Russia and has generally held strong. They hope to expand the deal to include other parts of Syria’s desert to the east near the border with Jordan.

The ceasefire was praised on Monday by Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov after a meeting in Amman.

"We discussed issues pertaining to setting up a de-escalation zone in south-eastern Syria," Mr Lavrov said.

Mr Safadi said Jordan, Russia and the United States were "determined to meet the objective" of setting up a safe zone in the area "as soon as possible".

King Abdullah also discussed with Mr Lavrov the need for a political solution to the Syrian crisis and the significance of the ceasefire deal, the Jordanian Royal Court said.