Turkey Calls on Syrian Army to Delay Operation against Terrorists in Idlib

The Arabic-language Sputnik quoted a Russian military source as disclosing that Turkish officials have called on their Syrian counterparts via Russian channels to delay military operation in Idlib until September 4.

It further said that Ankara is trying hard to dissolve Tahrir al-Sham Hay’at (the Levant Liberation Board or the Al-Nusra Front), adding that Russia has informed the Syrian government of the Turkish officials’ commitment to the dissolution of Tahrir al-Sham and other militant groups or a reconciliation deal between the terrorists and Damascus.

The report further said that the Syrian Army has continued dispatching more forces and equipment to Idlib, Hama and Northeastern Lattakia in spite of Turkey’s attempts to delay the upcoming operation.

In the meantime, militant-affiliated sources reported that Tahrir al-Sham and the National Liberation Front, which was recently formed by Turkey, held several meetings to form a joint operation room to counter the Syrian Army’s major operation in Idlib.

The sources said that the operation room that aims to include the entire militant groups in Northern Syria has reinvigorated its defense capabilities in Lattakia, Hama, Idlib and Aleppo.

On Sunday, the army sent a convoy, including thirty military vehicles, tanks and other equipment to Northern Hama.

The newly-arrived army forces deployed to Jabal al-Turkmen and Salman regions in Northern Lattakia, Abu Dali and Abu Omar regions in Hama and Abu al-Dhohour base in Eastern Idlib.

A military convoy was also forwarded to Jourin in al-Ghaab Plain in Western Idlib.

The army also opened several humanitarian safe corridors to evacuate civilians as the zero hour is arriving for the government forces’ operation.

In the meantime, the army’s artillery and missile units pounded terrorists’ positions and movements in the villages and towns of al-Zakat, Hasraya, Latmin, al-Masasana and Ma’arkabah, inflicting major losses on the militants.