Civilians in Syria's Idlib welcome truce, hoping it holds
The Free Syrian Army and civilians in rebel-held Idlib province are grateful for a reprieve from the regime offensive.
ALEPPO, Syria — Many residents of Idlib province are breathing a sigh of relief as others are holding their breath now that Russia and Turkey have reached an agreement that has stopped, or at least delayed, a humanitarian crisis.
The Turkish-Russian agreement to establish a buffer zone between Syrian regime forces and armed opposition groups in Idlib province received broad acclaim among residents of Idlib, northwest Aleppo province and northwest Hama province, all of which are controlled by the armed opposition.
Idlib province is home to 3 million civilians, many of whom sought refuge there after being displaced from various cities by the seven-year-long Syrian civil war. They need protection now that the remaining opposition and extremist groups have been relocated there, making Idlib the largest opposition-held area. Civilians believe the agreement signed Sept. 17 between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could help their area avoid the scourge that the regime and its allies were preparing.
On Sept. 18, thousands of civilians took to the streets of Idlib’s towns — such as Binnish, Ftireh and Maar Shurin — expressing their gratitude for the agreement. Others wonder, however, how long the deal will hold.
