(Zaman Al Wasl)- Turkish-backed Syrian forces thwarted regime army incursion into southern region of Idlib province on Thursday in a new breach to the two-week-old ceasefire, rebel source told Zaman al-Wasl.
The National Army said the regime forces backed by Shiite militias launched military operation to take the town of al-Bara south of Idlib city.
The key opposition faction has killed 8 soldiers operating in the elite 25th Division, according to senior commander.
In relevant development, one Turkish soldier was killed in Idlib, the governor’s office in Turkey’s central Sivas province said on Thursday, topping the death toll of Turkish soldiers killed in Idlib to 59 in the past five weeks.
It did not provide additional details.
Turkey, which backs rebels opposed to Bashar al-Assad, agreed a ceasefire with Russia two weeks ago after months of fighting displaced nearly 1 million people in Idlib. Moscow supports Syrian regime forces.
The truce halted a terrifying three-month air and ground campaign that killed hundreds and sent 1 million people fleeing toward the Turkish border.
The agreement did not force Bashar Assad's forces to roll back significant military gains made in Russian-backed offensive for the past three months — a key Turkish demand prior to the talks.
The regime offensive in Idlib province and parts of Aleppo has displaced more than 1,041000 people from their homes and killed 700 people, including 91 women, 212 children and 17 rescue workers, over the past three months, he Syrian Response Coordination Group said.
According to the local monitor, Russia and regime airstrikes have targeted 20 refugee shelters, 88 educational facilities, 9 centers for Civil Defense agency, 32 health centers, 8 ambulances, 14 furnaces and a bakery, 31 worship, and 23 various facilities such as water and power plants.
The nine-year-old war has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands and forced 13 million people from their homes, half of whom have left their shattered homeland.
Zaman Al Wasl, Agencies
Zaman A Wasl
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