Deadline for Implementing Sochi Agreement Ends, Terrorists Still in Demilitarized Zone

Terrorist groups have not left the demilitarized zone in Northern and Northwestern Syria as the deadline specified in the Sochi Agreement for their withdrawal arrived at midnight.
The Arabic-language al-Watan daily reported that the terrorists have continued their presence in the demilitarized zone in Northeastern Lattakia, Southern Idlib and Western Aleppo.

In the meantime, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that none of the terrorist groups that rule over 70 percent of the demilitarized zone that covers a large region from Northeastern Lattakia to Northwestern Aleppo has left the zone as the deadline arrived on Monday October 15.

The SOHR further said that no joint or separate patrol has been carried out by the Russian and Turkish forces in the demilitarized zone either.

In the meantime, local sources reported that terrorists launched heavy mortar attacks on the Syrian Army positions in Jubb al-Maqarah, Tadif and the Sceintific Research Center in al-Sha’aba in Aleppo province in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, analysts blame Turkey’s inaction in the face of the terrorists’ refusal to leave the demilitarized zone in defiance of the Sochi agreement.

Al-Watan reported on Monday that Ankara called on Damascus to delay any military operation in the Northern and Northwestern parts of the country to have more time to expel terrorists from the Sochi Agreement’s demilitarized zone after militants officially refused compliance with the agreement.

Al-Watan reported that Tahrir al-Sham Hay’at terrorists and their allies never retreated from demilitarized zone in Northern and Northwestern Syria mentioned in Sochi Agreement.

The daily further said that Tahrir al-Sham, Horas al-Deen and Turkistani Islamic Party reinvigorated their positions and hidden their heavy weapons, adding that the terrorist groups decided to remain in their strongholds in the demilitarized zone in Northeastern Lattakia, Northwestern Hama, Southeastern, Northern and Southern Idlib.

The paper said that Turkish Intelligence Service has thus far been unsuccessful in persuading Tahrir al-Sham to leave its positions in the demilitarized zone, adding that Ankara has called on Damascus via Moscow to delay any military operation and give more time to Turkey to do its undertakings with regard to the expulsion of the terrorists form the zone.

The daily said Turkey has not declared any specific date, but it can be estimated that the terrorists’ withdrawal will last till the end of the current month.