Terrorists breach demilitarized zone agreement, Syrian army responds and destroys their hideouts

Units of the Syrian Arab Army on Friday thwarted terrorist groups’ infiltration attempts towards the safe areas and army points on the outskirts of the demilitarized zone in Idlib from several directions.

The army units responded with suitable weapons and inflicted heavy losses upon terrorists in personnel and equipment.

In Hama, an army unit destroyed mortars launching pads and machine guns for terrorists in the villages Lahaya and Ma’rkebeh  in retaliation for targeting a military point with explosive bullets and machineguns in the northern countryside.

One of the army units centered in Al-Masasneh direction combed areas of agricultural lands in the vicinity al-Latamina town after tracking terrorist group linked to the so-called “Al-Ezza Brigades” trying to infiltrate into military points stationed in the area.

An army unit in Tel Bazzam, north of Soran city, inflicted direct losses upon Jabhat al-Nusra-linked terrorist group which infiltrated through the agricultural lands south of Morek city.

To the north of Maharada area in the northwestern countryside, units of the army directed concentrated strikes with medium machineguns on launching pads and fortified positions of the terrorist groups in the towns of Al-Arbaeen, Al-Zakat, Tal Al-Sakher and Hasraiya.

As part of the high alert of the army units operating on the outskirts of the demilitarized zone, an army unit combed the villages of Skaik and al-Khwain, east of Ma’aret al-Nu’man, after monitoring movements of Jabhat al-Nusra-linked terrorist group while trying to attack military points in the area.

Since the implementation of the demilitarized zone agreement in Idleb, the army units have foiled dozens of infiltration attempts by terrorist groups from the countryside of Idleb and Hama towards military points centered to protect safe towns in the northern Hama countryside.

Turkish top diplomat comments on Idlib deal implementation

The Turkish-Russian agreement on establishing a demilitarized zone in the Syrian province of Idlib "is being implemented at a good pace," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told the CNN Turk TV channel on Friday.

"There is a need to take additional security measures along the M4 and M5 highways [in Idlib,’ he said. "The memorandum on Idlib is being implemented at a good pace. However, the steps we have taken will not make it possible to ensure a permanent ceasefire unless a political solution is found," the Turkish top diplomat added.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on Thursday that "despite Ankara’s significant efforts to implement the Russian-Turkish memorandum signed on September 17, difficulties persist in setting up a demilitarized zone in Idlib." 

In this regard, she mentioned last week’s attack on the Syrian government troops’ positions near the Jurin settlement, carried by terrorists affiliated with Al-Qaeda (outlawed in Russia), which claimed the lives of 18 military servicemen.

According to the Russian-Turkish memorandum, signed in Sochi on September 17 following talks between the two countries’ presidents, a 15 to 20 kilometer-wide demilitarized zone was to be set up in the Syrian province of Idlib by October 15. 

However, Ankara asked to be given more time and postpone the launch of joint patrols, saying that it was impossible to guarantee security.

TASS

French terrorists enter Idleb to modify missiles and supply them with toxic chemicals

Local sources on Thursday revealed that terrorist French experts arrived in Idleb to modify some types of weapons through supplying them with chemical materials in order to use them in staging a chemical play to indict the Syrian Arab Army.

Russian Sputnik New Agency quoted sources which it described as close to the terrorist organizations as saying that French experts have recently arrived in Idleb to make modifications on missiles of “unknown model”, which have recently entered via the borders along with their launching pads, with the aim of supplying their heads with poisonous substances.

Few days ago, terrorists’ coordinates talked about the movement of terrorist groups from Idleb City and Khan Sheikhoun town with tanks, heavy cannons, heavy machineguns, various vehicles and  shoulder-launched surface-to-air Stinger missiles.

The sources noted that terrorists of the so-called “White Helmets” on Wednesday handed over 5 canisters of chemical substances to the French experts which they transported from one of the depots of Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organization in Kafr Nuboul town to a cache inside Idleb City.

The cache to which the chemical substances were transported has been recently established underground in the vicinity of Idleb Central Prison.

The sources added that the aforementioned five canisters were handed over at the cache underground.

+18 Video | Northern Syria: FSA rebel shoots dead his sister for having sex with Turkish officer

A Syrian rebel fighter brutally executed his sister after learning that she had had sex with a Turkish Army officer in northern Syria.

In details, Bashar Bseis, a militant fighting for a Turkish-backed rebel group in northern Syria found out that his sister, Rasha, was involved in a sexual relationship with an officer from the Turkish military.

Bashar’s discovery was made after Rasha’s nude photos went viral on social media.

The incident is classified in Islamic and Middle Eastern countries as  ‘Shame Killing’ where the perpetrator believes that the victim has brought shame or dishonor upon the family, or has violated the principles of a community or a religion.

The crime was filmed in a sickening video by the one of Bashar’s friends who encouraged him to ‘restore his honor’.

Asking the victim to show her face to the camera, Bashar fired around 90 Ak-47 bullets into his sister’s body.

Jihadists in Idlib buffer zone continue attacks against Syrian military: Russian MoD

The deadline for the jihadist rebels to withdraw from the Idlib buffer zone has expired and the militants are still inside this designated de-escalation area. 

According to the Russian Reconciliation Center, the jihadist rebels inside the Idlib buffer zone have continued their attacks against the government forces.

While the Russian Reconciliation Center did not specify where the attacks took place, pro-government activists in the northern countryside of the Hama Governorate have reported some militant activity within this part of the Idlib buffer zone.

The Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem has already issued a stern warning to the jihadist rebels in Idlib about not abiding by the Idlib agreement.

Muallem said this afternoon that the Syrian Armed Forces are already deployed near the front-lines and prepared for any action.

BREAKING: Jihadists in Syria's Idlib vow to continue fight as deadline looms

Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham known as HTS published a statement today officially rejecting Idlib agreement that was signed between Russia and Turkey.

In the statement which was published across the social media, HTS stated that they will not hand in any of their heavy weapons adding that their weapons is a red-line for them and there is no negotiation regarding their red-line.

Idlib agreement was signed by Russia and Turkey at a meeting in Sochi on Sept 17

Russia and Turkey agreed to a diplomatic solution for Syria’s northern Idlib province at a meeting in Sochi on Sept. 17.

The deal sets up a demilitarized zone running 15-20 kilometers (9-13 miles) deep into rebel territory that must be evacuated of all heavy weapons and all jihadist groups by Monday, Oct. 15.

The deadline for Jihadists to retreat from the demilitarized zone ends by tomorrow.

Jordan-Syria border to reopen Monday for first time in 3 years

The border crossing between Jordan and Syria will reopen on Monday after being closed for three years, the two countries said Sunday after weeks of talks.

According to the Jordanian government spokesperson Jumana Ghunaimat, Amman’s decision to reopen the Nassib Crossing was a crucial decision to boost trade between the neighboring countries.

“This was a crucial artery of trade between Jordan and Syria and transit to other countries,” she said.

This move to reopen the Nassib Crossing on Monday comes at the same time both Syria and Israel agreed to restore the Golan Heights Crossing.

The Nassib and Golan Heights crossings were both closed in early 2015 after the Syrian Arab Army lost several imperative areas along the southwestern border of the country.

Russia has information on upcoming chemical weapons provocations in Idlib

Russia has obtained intelligence that militants are plotting provocations with the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian province of Idlib, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the OPCW, Ambassador to the Netherlands Alexander Shulgin said on Friday.

"Yes, of course. [Russia has information]. The information comes constantly," he said.

"We have held several meetings at the OPCW [the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons]. I applied to the Technical Secretariat and handed them detailed information about a provocation in the Idlib province. 

We know surnames of the armed opposition leaders and the number of barrels with chlorine," Shulgin said.

"We were hoping that the Secretariat would raise its voice, but it had never happened," the ambassador added.

According to Shulgin, the provocations are highly likely, regardless of the fact that "the creation of a buffer zone and militants’ pullout from Idlib are under consideration."

"At any moment, the militants might get involved in something," Russia’s permanent representative said. "This threat is real and it is still looming."

Idlib buffer zone agreement is temporary - Russia

The agreement on a demilitarized zone in Syria’s Idlib has a temporary character and the conflict will be over only when the Syrian government regains control over the entire territory of the country, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with RT France, Paris Match and Le Figaro.

“Indeed, it is a temporary agreement. The end of the story will be only the Syrian people regains control of the country and all those who are staying in Syria, especially those who were never invited there, leave that country. It is clear for all,” the Russian foreign ministry quoted him as saying.

The September 17 talks between the Russian and Turkish Presidents, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in Russia’s Sochi yielded and agreement to establish a demilitarized zone in Syria’s Idlib, along the contact line between government troops and the opposition by October 15.

It is planned to withdraw the opposition’s tanks, multiple missile launcher systems, artillery systems and mortars from this zone. Control in this zone will be exercised by mobile patrol groups of Turkish troops and unites of Russian military police.

Idlib is the only large region in Syria that is still controlled by illegal armed groups. In 2017, a northern de-escalation zone was established in Idlib to give shelter to militants and their families who are reluctant to voluntarily surrender arms.

According to United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, about 10,000 Jabhat al-Nusra and al-Qaeda (both outlawed in Russia) militants are currently staying in the region.

Breaking: ISIS seizes Chemical weapons in Idlib province - Russian MoD

Toxic chemicals have been seized by the Islamic State terrorist group due to irresponsible steps of the Western countries’ representatives, Lieutenant General Vladimir Savchenko, the chief of the Russian center for reconciliation of conflicting sides in Syria, said on Wednesday.

"In the evening of October 9, a group of ISIS sleeper cell fighters attacked the headquarters of the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham terrorist organization (former Jabhat al-Nusra located near the village of al-Lataminah," he said. 

"In the fight, four militants and two members of the White Helmets organization were killed. 

Two cylinders containing chlorine were taken out of the headquarters. The seized cylinders were transported to the south of Aleppo province and handed over to terrorists of the Hurras al-Din terrorist group associated with the Islamic State."

"The Western countries, while planning provocations against Syrian government forces and employing their controlled bandit groups, do not take into account the complicated situation in the Idlib de-escalation zone. As a result of those irresponsible steps, poisonous chemicals ended up in the hands of Islamic State terrorists whose actions are hard to predict," the reconciliation center’s head added.

VIDEO: Turkey builds wall along borders with Syria in northern latakia

Turkey continues to carry out construction works at the borders with Syria in northern latakia in what can be viewed as a unilateral demarcation of borders.

Heavy machineries, trucks and bulldozers were spotted digging up grooves in order to erect a wall all the way to the maritime point separating the two countries i.e. al-Samra village on the Mediterranean.

Turkey has deployed 12 observation outposts in northern Syria to monitor the de-escalation zone agreement as per Astana talks with the other guarantor states; Russia and Iran.

The Turkish government has been involved in supporting militants fighting Syrian President Bashar Assad since the outbreak of the uprising in 2011.

According to Anadolu Agency, Syrian rebels finished withdrawing all their heavy weapons from the front lines in the northwestern province of Idlib on Monday.

This comes as part of a deal reached between Russia and Turkey to demilitarize the front lines between Syrian government forces and the opposition in and around the province.

Naji al-Mustafa, spokesman for the National Front for Liberation, a Turkish-backed umbrella group, said Sunday the alliance had unanimously agreed to implement the deal reached last month and expected to demilitarize 15-20 kilometers (9-12 miles) along the front lines by Oct. 15.

Turkish-backed FSA rebels withdraw all heavy weapons in Idlib buffer zone

The Turkish-backed FSA rebels fully removed their heavy weapons from the Idlib buffer zone on Monday.

According to the Syrian military, the Turkish-backed National Liberation Front (NLF) withdrew all of their heavy weapons from the northern Hama part of the Idlib buffer zone.

Among the heavy weapons withdrawn on Monday was the National Liberation Front’s plethora of tanks that were positioned near the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) front-lines in northern Hama.

While the Turkish-backed rebels have honored the Idlib buffer zone agreement, the jihadist groups have not.

The jihadist rebels have continued to use the Idlib buffer zone to attack the Syrian Arab Army and their allies in the Hama and Latakia governorates.

New mass graves discovered in Syria's Idlib

Security forces unearthed three mass graves in Abu Duhur town in eastern countryside of Idlib as civilians continue to use the crossing toward the government-held areas.

The mass graves include 12 bodies for fallen Syrian Army soldiers who had been killed during battles against the jihadi groups.

The bodies were recovered in the presence of Syrian Red Crescent, and eventually transported to the military hospital in Hama for identification.

The Syrian forces, backed by Russian airstrikes, managed to recapture the town and its strategic airbase along with more than 300 villages and towns in Hama, Idlib and Aleppo countryside after a wide-scale operation launched last November.