The deadline is up for the first two stages of a Russian-Turkish deal to create a demilitarized “buffer belt” around Syria’s rebel-held province of Idlib. The Sept. 17 deal, agreed between the two countries’ presidents in Sochi, required militants to surrender their heavy weapons by Oct. 10 and the removal of groups deemed as “terrorist” from the zone by Oct. 15. With a fine adjustment to keep up appearances, heavy weapons were only withdrawn from the front lines, while the condition for the pullout of groups deemed as terrorist, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Hurras al-Din, the Turkistan Islamic Party and Ansar al-Islam, could not be met.

Turkey’s state-run Anatolia news agency reported the withdrawal of mortars, cannons, tanks and Grad and medium-range missile launchers, while the Defense Ministry announced Oct. 10 that “Turkey has fulfilled its responsibilities as a guarantor country” and that “the withdrawal of heavy weapons was completed” that day.

It is impossible to determine or confirm how many weapons have been surrendered and how many have been stashed away. Skeptics of the deal have little to say, given the Russian nod of approval. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said things were “progressing well,” signaling Moscow’s willingness to continue working with Turkey and not cast a shadow on the Sochi accord. The task of highlighting potential gaps was up to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who said Oct. 10 that Russian experts were trying to verify the pullout of heavy weapons. Over 1,000 militants had left the demilitarized zone, and about 100 pieces of equipment had been withdrawn, she added. The figures appeared quite modest, given the large number of militants in the region. Damascus, meanwhile, said it was awaiting Russia’s confirmation on the implementation of the deal.

Official statements aside, reports from the field paint a picture that is heavily open to interpretation.