[ad_1]
Beirut (AFP) – A key rebel alliance in Idlib, Syria, has declared itself opposed to the deployment of Russian forces in a demilitarized zone to be created as part of a Turkish-Russian agreement on the Bastion of l & # 39; opposition.
The agreement reached last month between Ankara and Moscow provides for the creation of a U-shaped buffer zone around Idlib, which would be free of jihadist weapons and heavy weapons.
Turkish troops and the Russian military police patrolled the buffer zone.
The National Liberation Front, a powerful rebel alliance backed by Turkey in Idlib, has cautiously welcomed the deal, but has since raised objections.
"A long meeting is held with our Turkish ally regarding the elements of the agreement and mainly the question of the presence of Russia in the buffer zone," said FNL spokesman Naji Sunday. Mustafa.
"We have discussed the issue and the FNL has taken a clear position in rejecting this case," he said, adding that Turkey "is committed to this not happening."
The agreement on Idlib was concluded on September 17 by Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the seaside town of Sochi.
Under the terms of the agreement, all factions in the planned buffer zone are to surrender their heavy weapons by October 10, and radical groups must withdraw by October 15.
Mustafa's Sunday statement was the latest indication of further divisions and confusion around the deal.
The monitor of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Sunday that an FNL faction known as Faylaq al-Sham had begun withdrawing its heavy weapons from three cities located in the city. planned area.
Faylaq al-Sham and the NLF both refused the withdrawal to AFP.
"There has been no change in the location of weapons or the redistribution of fighters, although we remain committed to the agreement reached in Sochi (the Russian seaside resort)," Sayf al-Raad said.
Idlib is on the border with Turkey and is being held by a complex of rebel and rival jihadist factions, which observers say will complicate the creation of the buffer zone.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a jihadist-led alliance, and other extremists, hold most of the territory on which the buffer zone would be created.
HTS has not yet officially commented on the deal, but its leader, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, has already warned that rebel arms constituted a "red line".
Hurras al-Deen, a small group linked to al-Qaeda, rejected the agreement.
On Saturday, Jaish al-Izza, a former US-backed rebel group, followed suit, saying the agreement "saved Bashar al-Assad (Syrian president)"
