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Despite Cease-Fire, Clashes Continue in Syria's Idlib

Sirwan Kajjo

   WASHINGTON - Fierce clashes continued Sunday between Syrian government
   forces and rebel fighters in the northwestern province of Idlib,
   despite a cease-fire brokered last week by Russia and Turkey.

   The recent surge in violence began after Syrian and Russian warplanes
   resumed their airstrike campaign in Idlib, the Syrian Observatory for
   Human Rights reported.
   The war monitoring group said severe clashes took place Sunday in the
   southeastern part of Idlib, where rebel fighters and jihadist factions
   have been trying to regain control of several towns and villages
   recently recaptured by Syrian government forces and their allies.

   Local news reports said at least 28 Syrian government troops and 19
   rebel fighters, including 15 jihadists, were killed in Sunday's
   clashes.

   Idlib, the last main rebel stronghold in Syria, is home to nearly 3
   million people. The Syrian province is largely controlled by the
   Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al-Qaida
   affiliate in Syria.

   Failed truce

   On Jan. 12, Turkey announced a new cease-fire in Idlib after an
   agreement with Russia. Ankara and Moscow support opposing sides of the
   Syrian conflict.
   Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Turkey and Russia had
   agreed on a cease-fire and a halt of ground and air operations in the
   so-called de-escalation zone in Idlib.

   The de-escalation zone was announced in September 2018, after Moscow
   and Ankara reached an agreement that postponed a planned Syrian
   government offensive on Idlib and other areas near the Turkish border.

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