Russia, Turkey hold fourth joint patrol in Idlib

Russia and Turkey held a fourth joint patrol in northern Idlib region, the RIA news agency cited the Russian Reconciliation Centre for Syria as saying on Wednesday.

The patrol covered the M4 highway which links the cities of Aleppo and Latakia, and is part of the two countries’ efforts to uphold a ceasefire agreement in the region, according to Reuters.

This week, thirty Turkish trucks carrying tanks and troops entered northwestern Jisr al-Shughour region to bolster the newly-constructed observation pints near the strategic M4 highway, according to Zaman al-Wasl reporter.

The Turkish army set up four new observation points this week, topping the number to 56 as heavy reinforcements are still pouring to the last opposition stronghold in Syria.

The new outposts have been established in the villages of Frika and Bakseryah west of Jisr al-Shughour city.

The reinforcements came as Turkish army planned to minimise its troop movements in operation zones in northern Syria in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Idlib province is home to 3.5 million civilians, according to the United Nations.

The Syrian Response Coordination Team has recorded 109 ceasefire violations by Russian-led regime forces in northern Syria since last March.

The local monitoring group, in statement issued Tuesday, has warned that the renewal of military operations will endanger lives of 110,000 displaced people who returned to their homes since March 5.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, at least 1800 people, including 509 children, have been killed in northern Syria since April 2019.

Muhammad Hallaj, the director of the Response group, told Anadolu Agency that many of the displaced Syrians returned to their homes immediately after the halt in the attacks by regime forces in the area.

He added that since the cease-fire took place, 109,714 Syrians have returned to their homes.

In its turn, the Governor of regime-held areas of Idlib has urged displaced people of Maarat al-Numan and Saraqib and 70 more town and villages to return to their home which is now under regime control.

The nine-year-old conflict has killed more than 390,000 people and displaced 7 millions.