“The conflict began in 2011, after President Bashar al-Assad ordered his troops to open fire against peaceful protesters during the Arab Spring, and has resulted in the deaths of at least a quarter of a million people and the greatest humanitarian crisis since the Second World War.” Will the ceasefire pushed by the Russians and Americans — and set to begin Saturday — lead to an end to the nightmare? There are reasons to be dubious. But it’s also a rare moment of hope for (what’s left of) Syria.

+ The deal doesn’t include several groups, including ISIS.