Relative calm turns to simmering mutual shelling in NW Syria
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – On Monday evening, mutual shelling between Syrian government forces and the opposition factions has ended days of relative calm in areas in the de-escalation zone in northwest Syria in the countryside of Idlib, Aleppo, and Latakia.
Military sources from the opposition told North Press that the government forces targeted with dozens missiles and artillery the villages of Kafr Taal, Kafr Amma, Bahfis, al-Wasatah, al-Qasr, the vicinity of Kafr Nouran, and Atarib west of Aleppo.
The government shelling came in response to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) shelling of the government sites, according to the sources.
Additionally, the government forces stationed in Kafr Nabl and Maarat al-Numan south of Idlib launched similar shelling against the village and towns of al-Fatterah, Kafr Oweid, Sfuhen, Kansafra, outskirts of al-Bara, Mjdlya, and Maarbalit in Zawiya Mountain, as well as, areas in the northern countryside of Latakia.
Meanwhile, military sources in al-Fateh al-Mubin Operations Room told North Press that their factions targeted, with heavy artillery shells and rocket launchers, positions of the government forces in the Base 46, villages of Urum al-Sughra and Mizanaz west of Aleppo, and areas in Jabal al-Akrad northern Latakia.
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 between Syrian government forces and opposition factions accompanied by Russian warplanes’ flight 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.