FILE IMAGE: Russian military servicemen are in Syria
On Friday, the Russian Military Police deployed without any official announcement in 12 different areas in the northern Hama countryside according to Syrian opposition sources. Local sources suggested that the deployment is a part of the new de-escalation agreement in Idlib governorate and in the northern Hama countryside.
Spokesperson for the US-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) group Jaysh al-Nasr, Mohamad Rasheed, said that the Russian Military Police was deployed in the following areas:
- Hama Airbase and the Kafr al-Ton camp next to it;
- the Jurine base;
- Ayn Salmu village;
- the Al-Sina’a school;
- the Halfaya town national hospital;
- the Al-Tarabia’a camp;
- the Khatab base;
- the Zayn al-Abidin mount;
- Maardis village;
- Suran town;
- Taybat al-Imam town;
- Mahardah town.
Moreover, Syrian opposition sources said that the Russian Military Police patrols the northern Hama countryside on regular basis. The sources added that the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) withdrew from some positions where the Russian Military Police was deployed.
Some Syrian opposition activists claimed that Russia is planning a military operation in the northern Hama countryside. However, the task force is likely deployed to observe the ceasefire in the new de-escalation zone in the area.
