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The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) will resume its ground operations in Greater Idlib after the end of Eid al-Adha [on August 16], if radical militants don’t withdraw from the 20km demilitarized zone, al-Masdar News reported on August 5, citing a Syrian military source.
“The Syrian Arab Army will continue to target the militants inside the demilitarized zone until they withdraw,” the pro-government blog quoted the source as saying.
According to the source, the SAA has already concentrated its strikes on the towns of Kafr Zita, al-Lataminah, al-Zaka and Khan Shaykhun in northern Hama and southern Idlib.
Two days ago, Abu Mohammad al-Julani, leader of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which controls most of Great Idlib, said that his group will not withdraw any personnel or weapons from the demilitarized zone. He also stressed that they will not allow Russian forces to patrol the zone.
The SAA’s decision to resume its military operations in Greater Idlib after Eid al-Adha, if confirmed, could be a result of al-Julani’s provocative remarks. HTS is clearly not planning to respect the Sochi agreement, now or in the future.
