Guarantor states have been facing difficulties to contain violations of the Russian-Turkish truce deal in the provinces of Aleppo, Hama, Idlib and Latakia amid rising attacks in Syria’s “buffer zone,” particularly in the countryside of Idlib and Hama.
Syrian opposition sources told Asharq Al-Awsat on Sunday that the Turkish-Russian deal was “collapsing.”
On Sept. 17, Moscow and Ankara agreed on setting up a demilitarized zone 15-20 kilometers deep and stretching along the front lines around Idlib, including parts of the provinces of Latakia, Hama and Aleppo.
But attacks launched lately by the Syrian regime pushed opposition factions to take preventive measures in those areas.
“Opposition factions and extremist groups in the southwest of Idlib sent reinforcements to the fronts, and increased mobilization ahead of any possible escalatory measures by Syria’s regime forces,” the sources said.
The new developments came following two days of military tension, and the closure of the Morek crossing in north Hama.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Sunday regime forces used heavy machineguns in areas surrounding the town of Al-Lataminah in the Hama countryside.
“In the wake of a new round of fierce fighting between factions and regime forces, all sides are mobilizing their fighters and pushing for reinforcements,” SOHR director Rami Abdul Rahman told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Meanwhile, regime forces and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham clashed in the demilitarized zone in the countryside of east Idlib.
Activists said regime forces targeted the town of Jisr beit al-Rass and other areas west of the city of Aleppo and in the northern part of Al-Hamawi's countryside.
However, the Syrian regime accused opposition factions of violating the truce in Idlib.
SANA news agency reported that “terrorist” groups linked to Jabhat al-Nusra and the Turkistan Party, tried to infiltrate from Morek, Tal al-Shakher, Al-Lataminah and Maarakaba towns in the direction of regime positions.
