A ceasefire for Syria brokered by Russia and the United States will come into effect on Saturday, with the potential for the first formal break from fighting since it began in 2011.
But cracks in the deal may already be appearing.
Syrian opposition leaders say there are loopholes in the agreement that could seriously undermine its chances of success.
Not everyone will be covered by the Syrian ceasefire deal that comes into effect on the weekend.
The Syrian government and major opposition groups are protected.
But the al-Qaeda affiliate Al Nusra Front and the self-proclaimed Islamic State will still be live targets.
On the ground in Syria, the groups often overlap.
Rebel groups worry Russia, which supports the Syrian government, will use the exemption for "terrorist groups" as a front to continue bombing opposition-held territory.
The president of the key opposition Syrian National Coalition, Khaled Khoja, says it is very complicated.
Speaking in Arabic, he has told Al Arabiya Hadath television that members of the blacklisted groups live in the same cities as civilians and opposition forces.
"For us, al-Nusra is a problematic point, because al-Nusra is not only present in Idlib, but also in Aleppo, in Damascus and in the south. The critical issue here is that civilians or the Free Syrian Army could be targeted under the pretext of targeting al-Nusra."
The main Syrian opposition council reports Russia has stepped up air strikes since the impending ceasefire was announced on Monday.
On the other side of the conflict, the Syrian government says it will respect the ceasefire.
But Minister of National Reconciliation Ali Haidar says militant groups will continue the violence.
(Translated)"The Syrian state for sure respects that (the ceasefire) which it agreed to and will uphold it on principle, but I can't speak on behalf of the armed groups which, today, pre-emptively, announced that they are not willing to agree to the ceasefire."
In Damascus, some civilians remain optimistic.
(Translated)"I hope it is accomplished and that Syrian people feel safe and blood stops flowing. These are the wishes of every Syrian who loves their country. We hope that the parties are serious."
As the beginning of the ceasefire draws closer, there is a lot at stake.
The civil war has killed more than a quarter of a million people over the past five years.
Behind the warring groups on the ground is a complicated network of alliances.
The Syrian army is backed by Russia, Iran and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah, while the rebels are supported by the United States, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
US secretary of state John Kerry says it may be too late to hold the country together if a political solution does not come soon.
"Someone's going to have to sit down at a table and arrive at an understanding about what Syria is going to be. But it may be too late to keep it as a whole Syria if we wait much longer. So that's what's at issue here."
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