Ceasefire declared between Syria, Turkey in Idlib crumbles

CAIRO - 7 March 2020: The Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria declared on Saturday that militants in Idlib carried out six strikes against a number of villages and concentrations of the Syrian Arab Army in Aleppo and Latakia since the ceasefire went into effect on March 6.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that 15 were killed in clashes between the Syrian Armed Forces and militants on Friday.

SOHR also revealed that no less than 150 Turkish military vehicles entered Syria on February 5-6, and that a new column entered Syria on Saturday through Kafr Lusain crossing.

March 5

Militants launched attacks on Saraqeb, Dadikh, and their surroundings but the Syrian Arab Army repelled them.

The Russian and Turkish presidents agreed to create a six-kilometer safe pathway on the M4 highway connecting Damascus and Aleppo.

However, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced on Friday killing 21 Syrian soldiers and destroying four artilleries using a drone out of revenge as two Turkish soldiers were killed and three others were injured in attacks by the Syrian Arab Army in Idlib.

March 4

The Syrian Air Defense shot down hostile targets launched from Israeli-occupied Golan Heights in the sky of Quneitra Governorate. In parallel, fighter jets hit Homs governorate from Lebanon’s Bekaa’s airspace after taking off from Northern Israel, as reported by Sputnik.

The Syrian Air Defense had repelled on February 23 two waves of missile attacks that were launched by Israel while the Syrian Armed Forces were advancing in Idlib’s Jabal al-Zawya, which is the stronghold of Nusra Front.

The Syrian Arab Army restored control over a number of villages surrounding Saraqeb.

A terrorist group of 15 elements fired chemical explosives to cripple the advance of the Syrian Arab Army western Saraqib and fabricate the charge against the Syrian government but due to their lack of experience, they failed and got poisoned.

SOHR reported that nine Syrian soldiers were killed in a Turkish raid executed by a drone on Saraqeb.

Two Turkish soldiers were killed and six others were injured in attacks by the Syrian Arab Army.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad stated that the next destination of the Syrian Arab Army after the liberation of Idlib is Eastern Euphrates.

March 3

Four Turkish soldiers were killed and seven others were killed in a missile strike by the Syrian Arab Army on Turkish concentrations western Tarnaba and Mastouma Military Base in Idlib.

Syrian Arab Army restores Saraqeb from Turkey-backed militants

CAIRO - 2 March 2020: The Syrian Arab Army restored control over Saraqeb early on Monday after they had targeted Turkish artillery batteries near Qomainas as they were used to hit the Syrian Armed Forces concentrations. Russian Military Police were deployed in Sarqeb southern Idlib to ensure the security and traffic flow on the M4 and M5 highways.

The United Nations estimate that 700,000 civilians are fleeing violence in Idlib. In February, the Syrian Armed Forces were able to restore control over dozens of villages and towns in the countryside of Idlib, Aleppo, and Latakia as well as the M4 and M5 highways connecting those governorates together and with Damascus.

Deadly engagements took place on February 27 between the Syrian Arab Army backed by Russian Air Force on one hand, and Turkey-backed militants and Turkish Troops on the other hand.

On March 1, the General Command of the Syrian Armed Forces declared banning aviation in northeastern Syria, particularly over Idlib. The statement affirmed that any jet that violates the airspace will be downed and banned from committing aggression.