The Guardian: Some Idlib gangs fear Turkey will sacrifice them

NEWS DESK

In an article in the Guardian newspaper, writer Betan Mkiernan discusses the situation in Idlib under the control of Jabhat al-Nasra and the mercenaries gangs of Turkey, the agreement that Turkey has concluded with Russia and the establishment of a demilitarized zone.

The newspaper said it was still unclear whether Turkish-backed gangs would withdraw their tanks and artillery from the buffer zone, which ranges from 15 to 20 kilometers before  October 10.

The newspaper said that before the September17  agreement that gave Idlib a one-month deadline, the United Nations warned that an impending regime attack could cause the worst humanitarian crisis in a conflict marked by a dramatic omission of civilian life.

UNICEF regional director for the Middle East and North Africa Geert Kabalari said, "We are preparing for all scenarios.'

He added, "We welcome the proposals of influential countries to give priority to the protection of children, by providing humanitarian corridors that allow children to access such assistance."

The newspaper quoted the colonel in the so-called national army supported by Turkey Haitham al-Afisi that the Turkish negotiators find problems in the implementation of the agreement between them and Russia.

He denied reports that they had begun withdrawing heavy weapons from the buffer zone, adding that everyone was keen to carry out the deal.

But at the same time the newspaper confirmed that some gangs in Idlib fear that Turkey will sacrifice more land and still strongly opposed the presence of any kind of Russian surveillance forces.

Turkey is the biggest supporter of terrorist gangs and mercenaries in Idlib, especially Jabhat al-Nasra, which is on the international terrorism list. It supported it from the beginning of 2015 until it took control of Idlib.

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ANHA