Syrian armed groups withdraw heavy weapons from demilitarized zone
According to the commander of an armed group, the process of withdrawing heavy weapons has begun and will continue in the coming days.
|
Rebel groups have begun withdrawing from the Russian-Turkish military buffer zone. Photo: Pakistan Today |
Syrian opposition armed groups began withdrawing heavy weapons from the demilitarized zone agreed upon by Russia and Türkiye in northwest Syria yesterday (October 6), according to a Syrian source. The withdrawal of heavy weapons has begun and will continue in the coming days, according to a commander of an armed group.
The National Liberation Front (NFL) will withdraw heavy weapons 20km from the line of contact between armed groups in Idlib province and government forces. Light and medium weapons and machine guns up to 57mm will remain in the area.
Under a deal agreed in September between Türkiye and Russia, rebel groups will withdraw from the demilitarized zone by mid-October 2018. The deal helps prevent a government offensive in Idlib. However, the main rebel group in the Idlib region, Tahrir Al Sham, has not yet said whether it will comply with the agreement.