DAMASCUS, Sept 5 (NNN-SANA) – A cautious calm prevails in Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib, as a cease-fire entered into force last Saturday, the pro-government al-Watan newspaper reported, Wednesday.
The cease-fire, which was unilaterally announced by the Syrian army, involved the deescalation zone, which includes Idlib, as well as, nearby countryside areas of Hama, Latakia and Aleppo provinces in northern Syria.
The newspaper said, the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front is still reluctant to withdraw from the main road connecting Damascus with Aleppo and Aleppo with Latakia.
This road is crucial for the Syrian army and it’s currently cut, as the rebels in Idlib are in control of the stretch of the road that passes through Idlib.
Meanwhile, report said, civilians in some areas in Idlib, such as Maarat al-Numan, Kafr Takharim, and Ariha have protested against the al-Qaeda-linked groups, urging them to leave.
For its side, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor, said, relative cautious calm continued on the fifth day of the cease-fire in the deescalation zone.
It said, the current cease-fire is the longest in terms of the halt of airstrikes that had intensified since the battles raged in that region in Apr.
On Sunday, Syria’s presidential adviser, Buthaina Shabaan said, the cease-fire that was declared by the Syrian army is “temporary.”
She said, the Turkish army, which entered parts of Idlib, will be “forced” to leave Syria.
This is the second truce announced in Idlib this month. On Aug 1, a Russian and Turkish-backed cease-fire was reached but it quickly collapsed.
The new cease-fire aims at halting the fighting in Idlib between the Syrian army and the al-Qaeda-linked groups.– NNN-SANA
