Russia's foreign ministry said on Monday that militants in Syria's Idlib region are noncomplying with a ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey, the Interfax news agency reported.
The foreign ministry said the militants were taking counter-offensive action in the region.
For its part, the Russian Defense Ministry said joint patrols with Turkey in Syria's Idlib were cut short because of militants who refused to commit to ceasefire forcing them to take a shorter route, Russian news agencies report.
Russian reports also said the militants' provocations included using civilians as a human shield.
Ankara has been given more time to rein in militants conducting these provocations, the Russian Defense ministry added.
Patrols on the M4 highway in Idlib province are the result of a March 5 ceasefire accord between Moscow and Ankara, which back opposing sides in Syria’s nine-year war.
Under the deal, which halted hostilities after an escalation of violence that displaced nearly a million people, Turkish and Russian forces are to establish a security corridor on either side of the M4, as well as carry out joint patrols along it.
