A U.S.-Russia brokered ceasefire in Syria is still holding. The agreement took effect on Monday evening local time. U.N. officials reported “a significant drop in violence” during the first day, though isolated violent incidents still persist in pockets of the country.

Critics say the truce has very little chance of lasting. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s response to critics was: “What’s the alternative?”

We get an update from Joshua Landis, director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma. He edits the blog Syria Comment.