SYRIA: Repeated breaches show fragility of Russian-Turkish Idlib agreement

IDLIB, Syria – As part of the ceasefire agreement between Russia and Turkey pertaining to Idlib Governorate in Syria, Turkey has dispatched further reinforcements to Idlib consisting of some 60 military vehicles, including tanks and heavy weapons.

Turkish forces also established a new position in Tal Sandal near the town of Zardana in northern Idlib, within the area under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, which served as Al-Qaeda’s local affiliate in Syria. This latest position brings the number of Turkish points in the de-escalation zone, since late December to the present, to 41, most of which are located in areas in the Idlib countryside.

The Idlib countryside is witnessing a relative calm as the skies remain clear of Syrian, Russian, and Turkish aircraft for the third day in a row, despite violations in several areas by the Syrian Arab Army which has targeted several rebel positions in Bara and Al-Fatera.

Rebels responded to the SAA fire, shelling several positions with rockets.