Establishment of a Demilitarized Zone in Northwestern Syria and “Idlib Offensive” Stops
Islamic World News Analysis Group: On September 17, after Putin and Erdogan met in Sochi, Russia announced the pause of Operation Idlib and the establishment of a demilitarized zone in Idlib, which later following the announcement of this plan, Damascus and Tehran announced their support.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, after meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi, Russia and discussing a solution to the Idlib issue, said a 15-20 kilometers demilitarized zone between the Syrian army and the miliatnts frontlines will be established in northwest Syria and the miliatns and the Syrian army will retreat from these areas and only the Russian and Turkish forces will be deployed.
All heavy weaponry, including battle tanks and artillery, should be withdrawn from the zone before October 10. The zone will be patrolled by Turkish and Russian forces.
It’s expected that roads between Aleppo and Hama, and Aleppo and Latakia must be reopened for transit traffic before the end of the year.
According to Putin, the agreement has a “general” support from the Damascus government.
It’s still unclear how it’s possible to demilitarize a 15-20 km deep zone mostly controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and its allies without employing a military option to force these militant groups to obey.
We have to wait and see what political game of Idlib will be …
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