IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – Residents of Idlib expressed their fears of a military operation by the Syrian government and its affiliated militias, as well as overambitious Turkish positions, which failed to foil the government’s advance in the southern and eastern Idlib countryside.
Meanwhile, the Syrian government and Russia’s mobilization on the outskirts of Zawiya Mountain and the countryside of both Hama and Latakia, also increases residents’ fears.
Idlib resident Mustafa Hamid told North Press that upcoming military operations between the Syrian government and pro-government militias and armed opposition groups “are going to start, even if they are late.”
“Residents fear that Turkey, which has an unclear position towards the battle, will not adhere to its promise and prevent the government from advancing, more than conducting the battle,” Hamid added.
Shadi Omar, displaced from Hama and living in Idlib, told North Press that “we are observing the matters, and do not rule out that Turkey will hand Zawiya Mountain over to the Syrian government and Ariha to Russia, as Turkey has already handed areas in Hama and the southern Idlib countryside over to the government and Russia.”
“We do not trust the military groups in Idlib anymore, because they comply with Turkish orders and cannot refuse them,” Shadi added.
He pointed out that “if the Syrian government conducted a military operation in Zawiya Mountain, it would displace Idlib’s people towards the Syrian-Turkish border, and we do not hope to do so.”
Ahmad Kamel, a journalist from Idlib, told North Press that “Idlib residents do not trust Turkish military points that are distributed in Idlib and its countryside.”
“Turkish military points did not prevent the Syrian government forces’ advance in the eastern Idlib countryside, north Hama, and west Aleppo,” adding that “those points did not play an active role; rather, the Syrian government and Russia repeatedly shelled the point and Turkish troops in areas in Hama.”
Kamel said that “Turkey entered Idlib in order to protect civilians, but it did not. Moreover, it displaced hundreds of thousands of people and allowed the government to take control over many areas.”
He confirmed that Russian-Turkish understandings are the most important and that Turkey will not fight against Russia directly, as “the Idlib issue has become related to Libya and Yemen; this reveals that every country is concerned about its interests.”
Mustafa Bakor, the spokesman for an armed opposition group, previously told North Press that an Idlib battle, especially in Zawiya Mountain, was upcoming, though Turkey hinted repeatedly that it would not allow the government and Russia to take control over areas south of the M4 Highway.
He added, “If the opposition groups lost the expected upcoming battle, it would mark their end, while if Syrian government lost, it would mark their end, which means an international orientation to impose a political solution according to the Geneva resolution.”