CAIRO, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Arab League (AL) hailed on Sunday the UN Security Council's resolution demanding a ceasefire in Syria as "a step towards" a permanent settlement of the Syrian crisis.

The Security Council on Saturday unanimously adopted a resolution calling for an immediate 30-day ceasefire in Syria to allow access of humanitarian aid and medical evacuation into the besieged regions in Syria.

AL Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit welcomed the UN resolution, saying it is necessary to respect and implement all resolutions with international legitimacy, said AL spokesman Mahmoud Afifi in a statement on Sunday.

"We hope the resolution will mark a step towards a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Syria and eventually a political settlement for the Syrian crisis," Afifi quoted the AL chief as saying.

"The solution of the Syrian crisis will only be achieved through a comprehensive political process sponsored by the UN," the statement said, adding that military solutions and excessive use of force will only result in more complication.

The forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad started last week a bombing campaign on Eastern Ghouta on the outskirts of Damascus, leaving hundreds dead.

The recent escalation of violence in Eastern Ghouta, as well as in Idlib and other provinces, has raised regional and international concerns about the deteriorating humanitarian conditions of innocent civilians besieged in the areas.

Eastern Ghouta is part of the Syrian "de-escalation" zones included in a deal reached last May in Astana of Kazakhstan between the Syrian government and rebel groups.

Brokered by Russia and Egypt, the de-escalation deals were signed later in Cairo in July and August 2017.

Syria has for years been suffering from a civil war that has created chaos and instability due to the confrontation between pro-government forces and armed rebels and terrorists from the Islamic State (IS) militant group.

Assad's forces are backed by Russia, Iran and Shiite militias loyal to Iran including Lebanon's Hezbollah.

Since its eruption in March 2011, the Syrian crisis has killed half a million people, while more than 14 million other have been wounded or displaced by the war.