CAIRO — Egypt has recently upped its role in the Syrian crisis, sponsoring a new de-escalation deal in Syria’s Homs on Aug. 2. This came after Egypt succeeded in mediating a cease-fire agreement in Eastern Ghouta after hosting three days of negotiations in Cairo between representatives of some Syrian opposition factions and the Russian Defense Ministry.

The negotiations led to the signing of agreements involving the de-escalation zone in Eastern Ghouta. A statement released by the Russian Defense Ministry on July 22 said, “These documents define the borders of the de-escalation zone, the deployment sites, and powers of the de-escalation control forces, as well as the routes for delivering humanitarian aid and free passage to the residents.”

As a result of the cease-fire agreement in Eastern Ghouta, signed in Cairo on July 20, the Syrian armed forces general command announced the cessation of hostilities in a number of areas in Rif Dimashq. “The general command said in a statement that the cessation of hostilities enters into effect in a number of areas in the Eastern Ghouta as of July 22,” the Syrian Arab News Agency said.

Mohammad Alloush, the political leader of Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam) — a large opposition faction backed by Saudi Arabia in Eastern Ghouta — participated in the negotiations. He told the Russian news agency Sputnik on July 22, “It is true; the agreement was reached and now it has come into force.” Alloush said he expected humanitarian aid to be delivered to Ghouta under the agreement.