While in the Syrian Army has intensified its anti-ISIS operations in the Homs-Deir Ezzor, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) and other militant groups have continued their violations of the Ildlib de-escalation agreement in northwestern Syria.
According to recent reports, militants shelled government positions in northern Hama and western Syria causing casualties among Syrian Army personnel and local civilians. Armed groups claimed that this shelling was a response to violations of the ceasefire regime by the Syrian Army.
At the same time, it’s interesting to note that in their recent shellings of govenrment positions, militants used heavy mortars and rocket launchers. These weapons are set to be withdrawn from the demilitarized zone near Idlib under the agreement backed by Turkey and Russia. So, it seems the so-called opposition is going to continue violating the agreement and to accuse the Syrian Army of violations. It is not likely that this approach will lead to any kind of de-escalation of the situation in northwestern Syria.
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10 or so vermin every day, that’ll be OK for now.
The situation in Idlib has reached a stale mate: plenty of shelling but no territorial gain. Better to cross the Euphrates and go after ISIS in south-eastern Deir ez-Ezor.
I’d started thinking the Idlib campaign was put on hold, as we we’re all led to believe it was, but I’m not so sure anymore, I can see an SAA/Russian, and possibly a Kurdish assault coming soon, and exactly when and where the rebels will be least expecting it. I used to say that the SAA would begin their assault at Hajin in west Aleppo, and then strike west to the Turkish border, dividing Idlib into a northern and southern zones, I think I’ll start saying that again now, since it’s looking very much like it’s still about to happen.