People of Idlib protest Turkey’s silence on military escalations for second day
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – For the second day in row, several villages and towns in the Zawiya Mountain area, south of Idlib, northwest Syria, witnessed angry protests denouncing the silence of Turkish forces over the recent military escalation of Russia and the Syrian government forces in southern Idlib.
Hundreds of residents of villages and towns protested in front of the Turkish points in Zawiya Mountain area, blocking the roads leading to them with stones and burning tires, local sources from the area told North Press.
The protesters held banners which read, “To the Turkish guarantor, Mr. Erdogan, if you cannot protect our children, let us die quietly so that history will be written that the Turkish army is killing our children,” in addition to other phrases condemning the Turkish silence.
The sources added that the town of Taftanaz, east of Idlib, and the village of Kafr Lusin, north of Idlib, witnessed similar demonstrations, calling on the Turkish points in Idlib to take their role in protecting the population, especially in al-Zawiya Mountain area, which witnesses almost daily bombing.
Military sources told North Press that government forces stationed in the city of Kafr Nabl bombed sites of the opposition factions in the towns of Fateira, Kafr Aweed, Sufuhun, Kansafra and the outskirts of al-Bara in Zawiya Mountain, south of Idlib.
The sources added that the bombing also targeted the villages of Mjdlya and Kadoura in Jabal al-Arba’in area in the southern countryside of Idlib, from government forces’ positions in the city of Saraqeb, no casualties were reported.
The government bombardment also targeted the town of al-Ziyara and the villages of Sarmaniya, Tel Wasit, al-Mansoura, and al-Qarqur in the western Hama countryside.
On Thursday, hundreds of residents of villages and towns protested in front of the Turkish points in Zawiya Mountain area, blocking the roads leading to them with stones and burning tires, local sources from the area told North Press.
The protesters surrounded more than 11 Turkish military points there, according to the sources.Idlib countryside has escalated for months between government forces and opposition factions, despite the ceasefire agreement signed since March 5, 2020.
On Thursday, seven civilians, including three children and a woman, were killed in artillery and missile shelling carried out by the Syrian government forces, south of Idlib.