The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, also reported that almost all heavy weapons had been withdrawn from the southern edge of Idlib by Monday<\/a>. HTS and other jihadist groups appeared to have removed theirs “in secret”, it added.<\/p>\nThere was no immediate confirmation from the Turkish or Russian militaries.<\/p>\n
Two jihadist groups – Hurras al-Din, which is believed to be al-Qaeda’s new affiliate in Syria, and Ansar al-Din – have rejected the deal between Turkey and Russia, calling it a “great conspiracy”. HTS, which the UN estimates has 10,000 fighters in Idlib, has not yet declared its position.<\/p>\n
The main Turkish-backed rebel alliance, the National Liberation Front (NLF), said over the weekend that it had begun withdrawing its heavy weapons and that it would keep its medium weapons in place.<\/p>\n
What does the Syrian government say?<\/h2>\n
The Syrian government welcomed the Idlib deal last month, but President Bashar al-Assad told a meeting of the ruling Baath Party on Sunday that it was only a “temporary measure” aimed at “stemming the bloodshed”<\/p>\n
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“This province and other Syrian territory still under terrorist control will return to the Syrian state,” he was quoted by the Sana news agency as saying.<\/p>\n
Mr Assad also dismissed Western opposition to an offensive in Idlib as “hysterical”.<\/p>\n
The UN has said a full-scale military operation could have devastating consequences in the province, which is home to some 2.9 million people.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of thousands are already experiencing dire conditions in overcrowded sites where basic services have been stretched to breaking point.<\/p>\n
The UN estimates as many as 800,000 people could be displaced by a battle. It is not clear where they could go because Turkey has shut its border and many opposition supporters fear imprisonment if they cross into government territory.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n