MESOPOTAMIA NEWS IDLIB BACKGROUNDER & UPDATE – SYRIA
Syria’s Idlib Faces Deadline for Buffer Zone
15 Oct 2018 – The Syrian regime said it is ready to fight rebel groups (Reuters) in the northern province of Idlib, considered a final opposition stronghold, if they do not remove heavy weapons and fighters by a Monday deadline. The demand is part of a Russian-Turkish deal to establish a buffer zone in the area. The Syrian foreign minister, Walid al-Moualem, said Russia must determine if Syrian rebels abide by the demilitarization agreement. Jordan announced yesterday that it will reopen its Naseeb-Jaber border crossing (Al Jazeera) with Syria, a major channel for commercial goods that had been closed for three years. Israel said it will reopen a border crossing to Syria (Times of Israel) that was closed four years ago for exclusive use by UN peacekeeping forces. |
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