(Zaman Al Wasl)- The villages of Kafarya and al-Fu’ah occasionally witness the pro-Assad militias burning the villages’ fruit trees and bulldozing agricultural land in the two towns or at the front lines. Villagers in nearby Binesh, also hear the sound of massive explosions coming from the two villages leading Binesh’s residents to believe that the militias in the two towns are burning their heavy weapons.
According to local sources, the militias’ activities, especially agricultural related activities, are of much interest to the people of Binesh since some of their land borders on al-Fu’ah. In this regard, residents of al-Binesh are saying that some landowning families in al-Fu’ah intend to stay in their village under the protection of the al-Fateh Army or the Turkish forces which are expected to enter Idlib city and its countryside in the coming days.
In a statement to Zaman al-Wasl, Omar Khattab, spokesperson for Ahrar al-Sham Movement, confirmed that the four cities agreement is being implemented. He noted that the second phase of the agreement will be implemented soon, and denied any knowledge about families from al-Fu’ah remaining in the pro-regime town.
Mohammed Haj Qadour, an activist and member of the city’s coordination council, confirmed that implementing the second phase of the agreement is being obstructed in light of people’s demands that detainees from the towns be released. Speaking to Zaman al-Wasl, Haj Qadour, pointed out that an agreement is being reached to allow 300 civilians from al-Fu’ah, who have not participated in the killing, to remain in the town. He added that most of these people are major land owners.
A leading source in the Islamic faction in the north of Syria confirmed Haj Qadour’s comments indicating that the “four cities agreement” is almost nullified due to international developments in the north of Syria. According to the source, the two pro-regime towns are expected to fall under Turkish protection as Turkish forces prepare to enter Idlib within the “de-escalation of tension” agreement signed in Astana in recent weeks.
The source, who declined to be named, explained that the factions in the north are preparing to gain popular support from the people of Idlib city to present themselves as reliable allies for Turkey. The source indicated that Ahrar al-Sham Movement is among the factions trying to gain popular backing, and he cited the Movement’s recent move to adopt the revolutionary flag as part of its endeavor to gain support.
In light of these changing dynamics concerning al-Fu’ah, Abu Kamel al-Bineshi, an agricultural engineer, whose house is located on the front line with al-Fu’ah, confirmed that cargo plans are delivering aid to the two pro-regime towns on a daily basis.
Speaking to Zaman al-Wasl, al-Bineshi denied that agricultural activity at the front lines has returned to normal after the first phase of the four-city agreement was implemented. He explained that no agricultural activity is possible as the pro-regime militias in al-Fu’ah fire warning shots at anyone moving around on the front lines.
The first phase of the four-city agreement was implemented in April 2017. The first phase included the regime releasing detainees and the evacuation of 5,000 civilians and fighters from the two pro-regime towns in Idlib countryside, in return for fighters and their families leaving al-Zabadani, Bloudan, and Madaya in Damascus countryside. The second phase was expected to be implemented at a later time.
Mustapha Aref Haj Qadour, the head of Binesh City Council, said to Zaman Al Wasl that there are over 40,000 people living in Binesh between the local population and internally displaced persons. He added that their presence has contributed to creating calm on the fronts, and he hopes that the fronts in Binesh will remain calm so that all farmers can return to their lands and plant them. He said that the council has sought to secure support to provide more services to all the city’s residents.
The agricultural land in Binesh city is around 15,000 hectares, of which 1100 hectares is woodland. The main crops grown in the area are olives and grapes. Its people also cultivate vegetables and wheat for the city’s consumption.
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