This map provides a general look at the miltiary situation in norhwestern Syria on October 28, 2018. The recent escalation in the Idlib demilitarized zone has triggered an increased flow of civilians from the militant-held part of Idlib, Aleppo and Lattakia provinces to the government-controlled part of Syria.
Militant groups continue to violate the ceasefire agreement in multiple areas across the contact line. Local sources are expecting that the Syrian Army will be forced to impose the ceasefire by force eliminating the most radical part of the “opposition” in the key parts of the demilitarized zone. So, people are seeking to leave the expected combat areas.
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Good update which shows just how exposed west Aleppo city is to enemy attacks – Turkey has reinforced since driving in from Reyhanli salient during the invasion of Afrin and now has both regular TSK and proxies within spitting distance from Sheikh Maqsud district . Meantime , as expected, other enemy groups have not pulled out behind agreed lines and remain protected by Turkish troops. Note that Turkish armored battlegroups have been able to transit unhindered the M5 all the way to Khan Sheikhoun and M4 to Jisr al-Shughour. For clarification on https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/cc4344c732f9b45f39c9c6d1e95103744e763046246cb58e1c162f904ac128fa.jpg my map both were originally within the de-escalation zone, now it seem both cities are outside the line of withdrawl or not ? Thus ,the main imperative cities of Saraqib, Ma’rat al-Na’maan, Khan Sheikhoun, Jisr al-Shughour plus most of M4/5 highways and junctions remain under enemy control. Idlib city itself is not so important , just the Taftanaaz/Afis airbase nearby.