Military and strategic expert: Idlib battle is in the same strategy as the other “liberated” areas
Syria – North-Press Agency
A military and strategic expert assured that Idlib battle is in the category of the strategy followed by the Syrian government, which is to extend its control over it like the rest of the areas which have been "liberated" by the Syrian government, pointing out that, the issue of defining the "zero hour" is a purely Syrian matter.
In a statement to North-Press, Major General Rida Ahmad Shreiqi said that "the battle of Idlib is like the rest of the battles which took place in Syria, it is like Ghouta and southern Syria, as all of which fall into the category of single strategy, which is the liberation of Syria from all forms of terrorism," he said.
Idlib and northeastern Syria
The military and strategic expert denied that there may be a link between the issue of Idlib and northeastern Syria, considering that each region has its own strategy and policy which differs from the other. Thus, all the "terrorist" groups are present in Idlib and not in northeastern Syria, but the northern Syrian's groups may return to homeland, as this matter is left to political understandings, according to Shreiqi.
He added that there is an American enemy in northeastern Syria, and that the Syrian government is planning how to deal with this enemy.
Regarding the recent mobilization of the Syrian government forces and the fire paving, Maj.-Gen Shreiqi explained that "liberating" Idlib is imminent, and that the reason for the delay is due to the circumstances which prevented it earlier, indicating that determining the time to retake Idlib is planned for militarily in a correct way.
Via this plan, the Syrian government forces launch their offensive from several specific axes, of which its importance lies in the fact that it is the fast way to liberate Idlib, according to what the military and strategic expert said.
Turkish observation points
The Syrian government forces will avoid the Turkish observation points, which happened in previous times, considering that the Russian side is the one who is coordinating in this matter, therefore, it isn't planned for the Syrian government forces to clash with the Turkish forces, according to General Shreiqi's point of view.
He pointed out that: "When the Turkish forces find themselves in the control zone of the Syrian government forces, they will withdraw by their own without any fighting, and in coordination with the Russian friend."
Zero hour
As for determining the "zero hour", the General explained that this matter is purely Syrian, and that "the friends" (Russia – Iran) are now providing assistance according to the plan in place, especially on the subject of reconnaissance, noting that the Russian side sometimes provides advices to the Syrian forces.
The situation of the armed groups
The military and strategic expert considered that there are no moderate groups in Idlib, considering that everyone who took up arms against the Syrian forces is a "terrorist", noting that the Turkish side was unable to separate the terrorists from the other groups, and all the groups inside Idlib are terrorists therefore.
The situation of the civilians
Major General Shreiqi asserted that the government forces target only specific targets, where they are bombing positions of militants, and avoiding targeting civilian areas or the infrastructure. The Syrian government has opened a passage for the civilians to exit towards their areas of control months before, but the armed groups have prevented them in order to use them as human shields. Thus, the government forces had to complete their military operations in the region, according to what the military and strategic expert, Major General Rida Ahmad Shreiqi told North-Press.