Government, opposition clash amidst Russian airstrikes in northwest Syria
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – Russian warplanes renewed, on Wednesday, their air raids on areas run by Turkish-backed armed Syrian opposition factions in the countryside of Idlib, northwest Syria,
This took place amidst ongoing mutual shelling between the Syrian government forces and the opposition factions, also Known as Syrian National Army (SNA), in the surrounding areas.
Military sources from the opposition told North Press the Russian warplanes targeted, with several airstrikes, the opposition sites on the outskirts of the city of Idlib and the outskirts of Sarjah near Jabal al-Arba’in area, south of the city.
“The raids targeted the vicinity of the conserves factory on the western outskirts of Idlib. There were no reports of civilian or military casualties,” the sources added.
Meanwhile, the government forces continued their artillery and missile shelling on the opposition sites in the villages and towns of al-Fatirah, Kafr Oweid, Sfuhen, Kansafra, Deir Sunbul, Benin, Ruweiha and San in Zawiya mountain, south of Idlib, and the villages of Kafr Ta’al, Tuqad, and al-Hbata west of Aleppo, according to the same sources.
Meanwhile, military sources in the National Front for Liberation told North Press al-Fateh al-Mubin Operations’ Room targeted, with heavy artillery, positions of the government forces in Base 46, the village of Basartun, and an oil factory, west of Aleppo.
Al-Fateh al-Mubin Operations Room includes the National Front for Liberation, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and Jaysh al-Izza. The military bloc is active in northwest Syria in general.
It also targeted with heavy artillery shells positions of the Syrian government forces in the city of Saraqib and the town of Kafr Battikh, east of Idlib, according to the same sources.
Although the de-escalation zone in northwest Syria is subject to a Russian-Turkish ceasefire agreement signed in March 2020, the area witnesses frequent mutual bombardment despite the entry of the ceasefire into force.
In March 2020, Russia and Turkey reached an agreement in Moscow that stipulated a ceasefire, the establishment of a safe corridor, and the conduct of joint patrols on the M4/Aleppo-Latakia Highway.
Since the beginning of July, several fronts south of Idlib and west of Aleppo have been witnessing an unprecedented military escalation, which is the first of its kind since the signing of the de-escalation agreement between Russia and Turkey in March 2020.