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Syria Rebel Group Refuses to Withdraw from Idlib Front Lines

by Associated Press

   BEIRUT --

   A Syrian rebel group says it will not withdraw its fighters from a
   demilitarized zone around the northwestern province of Idlib that was
   agreed on this month between Russia and Turkey.
   Failaq al-Sham, one of the main Turkey-backed factions in northern
   Syria, said in a statement Sunday that all its heavy weapons are far
   from the front lines.
   The group's statement came hours after the Britain-based Syrian
   Observatory for Human Rights said Failaq al-Sham had begun evacuating
   some of its positions in Aleppo province bordering Idlib.
   The zone will be established by Oct. 15 and be 15-20 kilometers (9-12
   miles) deep, with troops from Russia and NATO-member Turkey conducting
   coordinated patrols.
   Idlib is the last major stronghold of the Syrian opposition.