Two militant groups reject demilitarised zone in Idlib

beirut — Two insurgent groups rejected a deal reached this month between Russia and Turkey to establish a demilitarised zone in Syria’s Idlib region with one saying on Sunday that the agreement aims to “bury the revolution.”

The rejection by some militant groups of the Russia-Turkey deal highlights the problems that the agreement may face in the coming weeks, as the demilitarised zone is scheduled to be established by mid-October.

It also underscores the divisions between insurgent factions as some groups backed by Turkey, such as the National Front for Liberation, have welcomed the move that averted a wide government offensive on Idlib.

Horas Al Din, Arabic for Guardians of Religion, called the deal to establish the zone that will be 1520 kilometres deep, with troops from Russia and Nato-member Turkey conducting coordinated patrols, a “great conspiracy.” The

group is made up mostly of Al Qaeda fighters that broke away from Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, the largest militant group in Idlib province.

Horas Al Din urged in their late on Saturday statement supporters from around the world to come to Syria “to help people of the Levant.” Another militant group, Ansar Al Din Front, issued a statement

on Sunday carried by Syrian opposition social media pages calling on all insurgent groups in Idlib “during this critical period to overcome their differences because of the existential battle since our enemy does not differentiate between us.” The Al Qaeda-linked HTS has not yet said whether it has accepted the deal. —