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ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Syrian rebels on Monday completed the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the frontline in Idlib, as part of an agreement between Russia and Turkey on the creation of a demilitarized zone, the government said on Monday. Anadolu news agency.
According to the agreement reached last month between Turkey and Moscow, the main support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, rebels considered as radicals must withdraw from the area by the middle of the month and the Heavy weapons must be removed by October 10th. .
The rebel alliance of the National Defense Front (NFL), backed by Turkey, said Saturday that the process of removing heavy weapons had begun.
Anadolu did not give more details on the removal of heavy weapons from the front. Earlier, rebels had to clear the demilitarized zone on Monday.
Other Syrian rebels are expected to remain in the demilitarized zone to help Turkish troops patrol and patrol the area, the NFL announced.
The Turkey-Russia agreement put an end to the threat of an offensive by the Syrian government. The United Nations had warned that such an attack would create a humanitarian catastrophe in the region of Idlib, home to about 3 million people.
Tahrir al-Sham, the leading jihadist group in the Idlib region, has not yet specified whether it would comply with the agreement.
Report by Ali Kucukgocemen; Written by Daren Butler; Edited by David Dolan and Alison Williams
