The start of Astana talks as mutual bombardments continue in de-escalation zones
North-Press Agency
The ground and air raids have continued in de-escalation zones, coinciding with the start of round 13 of Astana talks on Syria, following a relative calm prevailed in those areas since Wednesday midnight until Thursday morning.
Talks between the Syrian opposition delegation headed by Ahmad Toma and the Syrian government delegation headed by Bashar al-Ja’afari have been underway since the morning, as representatives of the three guarantors countries of Astana agreement, namely Russia, Iran and Turkey, have participated along with Lebanese, Iraqi and Jordanian participation.
The talks will focus on several files, the most important of which is the cease-fire in de-escalation zones, northwest Syria, the constitutional committee and the future of the country, and the file of the detainees in the prisons of the Syrian government forces. While the Syrian Air Force has interrupted, this morning, the cautious calm prevailed in the northern Hama countryside and de-escalation zones.
Moreover, the areas of Latamnah, Morak and Kafr zita in the northern countryside of Hama were hit by aerial bombardment, coinciding with land bombardments by government forces on areas in the village of Latmin in the same countryside, with heavy shelling of areas in Altmanah town in the southern countryside of Idlib.
Furthermore, the Syrian Air Force also attacked the Kabbana hills in Al-Akrad Mountain in the northeastern countryside of Latakia, with no information on casualties so far.
On the other hand, Ansar Al-Tawhid faction and armed opposition groups also targeted positions of government forces in the Maardes area in northern Hama countryside, as there were information about casualties among government elements.
While some sources and accounts, of the armed opposition groups, published on social media, videos of a new heavy missile, called “volcano”, as they claimed to use in targeting operations of Syrian government forces’ held areas in Hama and Idlib.