Opposition factions in the province of Idlib have been gearing up to confront regime forces, which began recruiting new fighters from areas they recently controlled in southern Syria.
Regime forces have sent military reinforcements to three fronts near the Shaghour Bridge, and are preparing for an attack from the countrysides of northwestern Hama, southern Aleppo, western Idlib and Lattakia.
In preparation for such expected confrontation, around 15 opposition groups and factions established a joint operations room.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said regime forces recruited more than 3,800 persons from the countryside of Daraa and Quneitra, adding they plan to enlist more fighters in the two provinces which they have recently controlled through military operations and “reconciliation” agreements.
The Observatory stated that it monitored ongoing forced conscription and the enrollment of those who are in the age of compulsory service.
Meanwhile, contacts were ongoing between Russia, Turkey and Iran, the three guarantor states of the Astana peace process, which includes arrangements for Idlib.
Damascus is trying to reach a deal in the province to grant amnesty to anti-Assad militants who are willing to live under the regime’s rule and surrender their arms.
Idlib, one of the last major rebel strongholds in Syria, is located near the border with Turkey.
In this regard, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone Friday with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and discussed the latest developments in Syria.
Prior to their conversation, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s special envoy, Mahmoud Vaezi, in Ankara.
In a separate development, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Hamacek traveled to Damascus on Friday for talks with Syrian officials.
Hamacek’s trip is the first for a European minister visiting Syria in several years.
The Czech Republic is the only country in Europe that maintains diplomatic relations with Syria.
