Syrian army starts observing ceasefire in Idlib de-escalation zone

Syrian forces have started implementing a unilateral ceasefire in the de-escalation zone of Syria’s embattled northwestern province of Idlib, which is the last major stronghold of foreign-sponsored Takfiri terrorists in the crisis-plagued Arab country.

Syria’s official news agency SANA, citing an unnamed military source, reported that the ceasefire went into effect on Saturday morning, noting that the Syrian army reserves the right to respond to any violation by the Takfiri terrorists.

The Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria had earlier announced the ceasefire in a statement released on Friday.

An agreement was reached on “a unilateral ceasefire by Syrian government forces in the Idlib de-escalation zone from 6:00 a.m. (0300 GMT) on August 31,” the center stated.

The statement said the ceasefire aimed “to stabilize the situation” in Idlib, urging foreign-sponsored Takfiri militant groups in the region to “abandon armed provocations and join the peace process.”

The announcement came after an unnamed Syrian military source said government forces had gained control over 10 villages located east of the already liberated town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province.

Russia’s Sputnik news agency quoted the source as saying that the villages of Khwein al-Kabir and al-Saqiyat, al-Tamana'ah town as well as Tal Saqiyat, Tal Turki, Tal Seyed Ali, Tal Sayyed Jaafar in addition to the western and eastern outskirts of Tamana'ah were purged of Takfiri terrorists by the morning of August 30.

On August 5, the Syrian army declared in a statement the start of an offensive against foreign-sponsored militants in Idlib after those positioned in the de-escalation zone failed to honor a ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey and continued to target civilian neighborhoods.

SS