Turkish Army Using Civilians as Human Shield for Terrorists in Idlib says report

The Arabic-language website of Sputnik news agency reported on Thursday that the safe corridor which was due to open in Abu Zohour region in Southeastern Idlib for the civilians’ passage from the terrorist-occupied regions remained closed after Turkey showed a green light to the militants to attack it.

It added that the Syrian army’s decision was called off after the Turkish officers held a meeting with commanders of the terrorist groups in Hama and Idlib near the town of Murak in Northern Hama, forcing civilians to remain in their homes.

Based on the report, the Turkish army has also declared that it will block any military operations in the province and protect the regions occupied by al-Nusra Front (Tahrir al-Sham Hay’at or the Levant Liberation Board), the ISIL, Horas al-Din and other terrorist groups.

Meantime, a Syrian field source said that the decision was called off after intelligence showed Turkey’s green light for the ISIL and al-Nusra’s suicide attacks against the passageway, adding that Ankara is trying to prevent military operations in the region by using civilians as human shield to protect the terrorists.

The Russia-run Sputnik news agency reported on Wednesday that the Russian and Syrian forces were making final coordination on a major offensive against terrorists in Idlib.

The Arabic-language website of Sputnik quoted a military source as saying that the Russian and Syrian armies have been coordinating to launch the long-waited assault in Idlib, adding that a vast joint reconnaissance operation has been underway by Russian and Syrian experts in the last few days as the zero hour is arriving for the operation in Northwestern Syria.

The Arabic Sputnik further said that monitoring movements and gatherings of terrorists in the villages and towns in Southeastern Idlib has been among the joint reconnaissance operation conducted by the Russian and Syrian forces.

In the meantime, the Syrian army artillery units shelled heavily the positions of Tahrir al-Sham Hay’at (the Levant Liberation Board or the Al-Nusra Front) in the region, destroying their bases and positions, the website added.