Russia, Turkey broker shaky cease-fire in Syria’s Idlib
Within hours of the announcement of a truce, Syrian forces are accused of firing on both rebel targets and a Turkish army outpost, but even a tentative respite is welcome as renewed clashes have displaced hundreds of thousands of people since April.
ISTANBUL — A cease-fire between Syrian government forces and the opposition brokered by Russia and Turkey appeared at risk within hours of being declared as Ankara accused President Bashar al-Assad’s forces of attacking a Turkish military outpost.
The Russian military said late on Wednesday that Moscow and Ankara had struck a deal for a complete cease-fire in the northwestern province of Idlib, the last stronghold of Syria’s rebellion. Home to three million civilians, Idlib has been under Russian and Syrian bombardment since late April in the worst fighting in a year that has seen some 500 people killed.
Just two hours after the announcement, Syrian forces shelled towns and carried out airstrikes near Idlib and Hama, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.
Syrian troops also fired 35 mortar shells at a Turkish military observation point that is monitoring a de-escalation zone in Idlib, the Turkish Defense Ministry said in a statement. “The necessary initiatives have been undertaken with Russia in connection with the attack,” it said.
