Military opposition Leader: We expect Turkey to intervene to maintain greater Idlib
Northwestern Syria – North-Press Agency
After the Syrian government forces took control over Khan Sheikhoun and tightened the cordon on the southern areas, particularly the Turkish observation point in Morek in northern Hama countryside, the leader of the National Liberation Front Fatih Hassoun believes that Turkey will intervene to preserve the greater Idlib in accordance with Sochi agreement.
Fatih Hassoun told North-Press that the fighting is still ongoing in the area and in the outskirts of Khan Sheikhoun, and that the opposition groups have caused casualties in the ranks of the Syrian government forces while making advance towards the city, about 15 soldiers killed and 22 injured.
He added: “Now there are fierce clashes between the joint forces (Russian, Iranian and the Syrian government forces) to take full control of Khan Sheikhoun and the armed opposition groups which exert all its efforts to counter them”.
Regarding the Turkish stance towards its besieged observation point now in Morek, Hassoun says: “The Turkish political and military leadership has warned al-Assad regime not to besiege its observation point, and they are making contact with Russia in this regard,”
“While Russia is trying to form a demilitarized zone by force and control the M5 highway, this calls for the withdrawal of the Turkish observation point, which Turkey refuses to withdraw although Russia is launching intensive air operations to displace the population and form waves of displacement to use as a pressure card on Turkey,” according to Hassoun.
Hassoun doesn’t believe that, “losing an area for a period of time means losing the war,” and that the revolutionary armed groups are continuing their battles under any circumstances.
Hassoun expects Turkey to intervene more clearly in the upcoming days to prevent the continuation of what is happening, especially in order to prevent the encirclement of the Turkish observation point, adding that Turkey feels the seriousness of the situation and it rejects any military advance of the Syrian government forces in the region, and that Turkey and Russia are holding talks in this regard.
According to Hassoun, the worst possibility of the current events in the northwestern regions of Syria is that, “the Greater Idlib area will be maintained in accordance with Sochi agreement, and to confirm this politically and on the ground, there will be a trilateral summit (Turkish-Russian-Iranian) which will be held in Turkey next month.”
Hassoun based his opinion on the arrangements of establishing the safe zone east of the Euphrates which will prompt Turkey to clarify them to Russia and Iran, which had stated negatively regarding its establishment, and that Russia and Iran want some interests in those arrangements, so “they seem willing to put pressure on Turkey through Idlib file to achieve some of their interests east of the Euphrates,” he added.