Russia announces agreement with Turkey to open 3 “humanitarian crossings” in northwestern Syria

Yesterday, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that it had reached an agreement with Turkey to reopen 3 crossings in the Idlib and Aleppo regions in northern Syria. With the aim of “alleviating the difficult humanitarian situation in the territories under Turkish control.”
The event came with continued escalation on the ground in the de-escalation zone and indications of growing disagreements between Moscow and Ankara regarding arrangements for the situation in the region.
The deputy director of the “Hmeimim” center for the reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria, Alexander Karpov, announced yesterday in a press release that the two parties agreed to reopen the crossings; “With the aim of lifting the state of isolation and alleviating the internal siege suffered by civilians,” according to the agreement, the Saraqib and Miznaz crossings in the Idlib region were reopened to reduce the escalation and the Abu Zaidin crossing in Aleppo. .
The Russian military officer expressed his conviction that “this procedure directly demonstrates, nationally and internationally, our commitment to Turkey’s partners for the peaceful solution of the Syrian crisis.” The deputy director of the center of the Russian Defense Ministry explained that this step “will contribute to improve social conditions and eliminate tension in society due to the interruption of family contacts and difficult living conditions.”
These areas had witnessed, in recent weeks, repeated protests by the population in the context of the deterioration of the humanitarian situation, which were dispersed by pro-Turkish military formations.
Moscow presented on Tuesday a proposal to open the crossings on the Turkish side, and a statement issued by the Center for Reconciliation stated that “the proposal includes the launch of the two humanitarian trucks and the exit of the displaced through the corridors, starting at 25 of March “.
It is noteworthy that the fact, in addition to signaling the concern of the Russian and Turkish parties about the escalation of discontent and protests within the de-escalation zone, was the first joint attempt to besiege the disparities that have increased during the recent period. . between Moscow and Ankara regarding the situation in the de-escalation zone in and around Idlib. Karpov’s comment before the announcement of the agreement reflected that Moscow did not trust the response of the Turkish side to the Russian proposal, as the Russian military official told reporters: “Unfortunately, I do not have any information about the Turkish response on the measures. that have been taken, but I look forward to the participation of the part. Al-Turki is in this matter, out of his own convictions and because he understands the need to improve the situation with regard to the civilian population.
And the Russian media has focused, in recent days, on the growing points of contention between Moscow and Ankara, and the two sides are willing not to officially announce the differences. Informed Russian sources indicated that “the agreements between the presidents of Russia and Turkey, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, regarding Syria, are threatened with rupture.”
And the media noted that “the Syrian opposition accuses the Russian forces of bombing Idlib. Meanwhile, Ankara calls on Moscow to halt attacks by pro-Syrian forces in Turkish-controlled areas in northern Syria. Moscow also has reason to demand that Turkey comply with the agreements. On Sunday night, the Turkish air force bombed the Raqqa governorate for the first time in 17 months, and Russian forces are not satisfied with the actions of the pro-Turkish formations.
The sober daily Kommersant also reported that “both Moscow and Ankara have complaints about the implementation of the agreements signed at the presidential level.”
But the newspaper noted that “Moscow is trying at the highest level to pretend that everything remains stable in relations with Ankara, despite the existing difficulties. In a recent press interview, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu indicated that Russia and Turkey are making compromises even when that seems impossible.
The agreement on the opening of the crossings came as clashes between the government and opposition forces continued in Idlib, in northwestern Syria. Government forces continued their missile attacks in southern Idlib, targeting areas in Sufuhn, Al-Bara, Kansafra, Felifel, Binin and Al-Ruwaiha, in addition to the vicinity of Qulidin and Al-Ankawi in the Al-Plain. Ghab northwest of Hama, while contact points in the Al-Ghab plain witnessed mutual heavy machine gun attacks between regime forces and factions, with no information. For human losses.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that a member of the pro-regime National Defense Forces was killed as a result of the wounds suffered as a result of their attack, along with a group of elements, with a thermal missile, in the axis of the Bsartoun village in the Aleppo countryside. In the Latakia camp, a member of the regime forces died as a result of injuries sustained by the explosion of a landmine near the combat lines.
The observatory said two other regime forces were killed by a mine explosion on the front lines in the northern Latakia countryside.
At the same time, clashes broke out in the early hours of yesterday morning (Wednesday) on the Kafr Kalbin axis in the Azaz camp, north of Aleppo, between the pro-Turkish factions and the Syrian Democratic Forces coalition ( SDF) deployed in the area.
In addition, clashes resumed, on the night of last Tuesday and Wednesday, between the “Syrian Democratic Forces” and the Turkish army and the Syrian factions loyal to the northern camp of the strategic city of Ain Issa, located in northern Syria.
Riyadh Al-Khalaf, commander of the “Tal Abyad Military Council” under the banner of the “SDF” forces, said that his forces “responded to the violations and thwarted infiltration attempts, but the situation remains tense in the vicinity of Ain. Issa, “indicating that the operations are accompanied by violent shelling by Turkish mortars and artillery. In addition to missile attacks from fighter jets.
Leader Laila Mashou, director of the Autonomous Administration’s “Tal Abyad District”, criticized the Russian position. And she said: “The Russian army promised to protect the civilians who returned to their properties in the villages of Sidon and Al-Maalak, and as every time their lives were in danger, as they were directly attacked in pursuit of their interests with the Turkish occupation “.