Russia demands that Turkey complies with Syrian agreements
The head of the Russian Center for reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria, Major General Alexei Bakin said that Russia expects Turkey to fully comply with the agreements on the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the demilitarized zone in response to the initiative of the Syrian authorities on a complete ceasefire in the de-escalation zone in Idlib, reports TASS news agency.
"We expect the Turkish side to fully implement the Sochi agreements within 24 hours in response to the Syrian initiative, providing the withdrawal of militants and weapons from the demilitarized zone and the cessation of attacks. Turkey should also unblock the Damascus — Aleppo route," Bakin said.
He said that “illegal armed groups” violated the ceasefire agreement and attacked the native village of President Bashar al-Assad in the distance 14 km from the Russian Khmeimim Air Base.
"12 bomb explosions have been recorded in the village of Kardaha. As a result of attacks, one civilian was killed, and three were wounded," — the General reported.
Idlib remains the only major region of Syria which is not controlled by the Syrian army. In 2017 Northern area of de-escalation was established in the region. The members of armed groups, who refused to make an agreement with the authorities and voluntarily lay down their arms, could move there with their families. The zone includes the Northern province and parts of the neighboring Latakia, Hama and Aleppo provinces.