Government, opposition exchange shelling in Syria’s de-escalation zone
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – Areas in the de-escalation zone in the countryside of Idlib, Aleppo and Hama in northwestern Syria underwent on Friday a persistent exchange f shelling between the Syrian government forces and the opposition faction.
Military sources from the opposition told North Press that the government forces targeted with scores of artillery shells the opposition sites in the villages and towns of al-Fatirah, Kafr Oweid, Sfuhen, Kansafra, Benin, in Zawiya Mountain south of Idlib and the villages of Sheikh Sendiyan and Ghaniya west of the governorate.
The sources added that the shelling also targeted the villages and towns of Hbata, Kafr Amma, Kafr Nouran, Tuqad, Maklbis, Sheikh Suleiman west of Aleppo governorate, in addition to targeting the villages of Sirmaniyah and Enkawi in Ghab Plain west of Hama.
Military sources in National Front for Liberation told North Press that al-Fateh al-Mubin Operations’ Room intensively targeted positions of the government forces in Slinfah, Ain al-Hamam and Tellet al-Borkan north of Latakia.
It also targeted with artillery shells and missiles the government sites in the city of Saraqib and the villages of Naur Jurin and Jurin in Ghab Plain, and the shelling also targeted Base 46 and Baserton west of Aleppo, 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.