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Bashar al-Assad regime and its ally Russia on Sunday claimed that an anti-regime armed group carried out a chemical attack from Idlib to Aleppo whereas the opposition elements and local sources disputed the allegations.
SANA, Syria's official news agency, announced that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group launched chemical attack in al-Khalidiya area of Aleppo that is under the regime control, asserting that more than a hundred civilians were affected.
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman's early statement today claimed that the chemical strike targeted the northwestern rural of Aleppo, with mortars being fired from Idlib de-escalation zone late Saturday.
It was pointed out that 120 mm mortar shells containing chlorine were fired from Al-Buraykat district controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
The ministry also accused the Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, having a part in the alleged attack.
Turkey on Saturday welcomed the prisoner swap in Syria, saying mutual and simultaneous release of the detainees builds confidence between the sides in the war-torn country.In a written statement, Turkish Foreign Ministry said several persons detained by the opposition groups and the regime were "mutually and simultaneously" released on Saturday.The swap took place in the Abu al Zindeen district to the south of al-Bab, which is controlled by the opposition, within the scope of a pilot project of the Astana Working Group, the ministry said.Five civilians killed in regime attacks in Syria’s IdlibTurkey against planned US observation points in SyriaIt is an important first step to implement confidence-building measures aimed to be continued with new initiatives, the statement read.According to the ministry, the project of the Release of Detainees/Abductees, Handover of Bodies and Identification of Missing Persons was established as part of the Astana process with the participation of Turkey, Russia and Iran as well as the UN.Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity.Turkish officials help Syrian teen reunite with familySyrian Turkmens to unite under single flagTurkish NGO opens midwifery school in Syria's Idlib
Turkey welcomes mutual prisoner releases in Syria
The Assad regime and Russia, since late August this year, have claimed that the opposition forces or anti-armed regime groups were getting prepared for a chemical attack, using Idlib and Operation Euphrates Shield zone for logistics.
On the other side, the opposition and Civil Defense had previously announced that the regime and Russia had a secret agenda of launching a campaign towards Idlib de-escalation zone and break the truce, hence they were preparing scenarios in which the opposition would be accused of chemical weapon usage.
Where is Al-Buraykat?
Al-Buraykat, the settlement mentioned in the Russian statement, is not included in maps.The civilians and active Free Syrian Army (FSA) groups told Anadolu Agency that they didn't know about any place addressed as "Al-Buraykat."
Raed Salah, the head of Civil Defense, told Anadolu Agency that there wasn't a settlement area with such name. "We are not informed about a place like that; even if it exists, we are not operating there," he said.
Turkey has repeatedly conveyed its “discomfort” to the U.S. officials over their country’s planned observation points in northern Syria, Turkish defense minister said on Saturday.Speaking to Anadolu Agency following a ceremony to mark Turkey’s Teachers Day, Hulusi Akar said he spoke with Gen. Joseph Dunford, the U.S. joint chiefs of staff chairman, last Sunday on the sidelines of the Halifax International Security Forum in Canada about the planned U.S. observation points on the Syrian border."We have stated that the observation points to be established by the U.S. troops on the Syrian border will have a very negative impact […] and in the course of our discussions we expressed that it could lead to a perception that 'U.S. soldiers are somehow protecting terrorist YPG members and shield them'," he added.Akar said that these practices would make the already complex situation in the region "much more complex" and added that there is no need for that.The defense minister said the Turkish Armed Forces are taking all necessary measures to protect the country from all kind of threats, including from beyond the borders."We expect that our U.S. allies cut their relations with the terrorist YPG, who are no different from the PKK, as soon as possible," he added.The YPG is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK, a terrorist group recognized by Turkey, the U.S., and EU, which in its 30-year terror campaign has taken some 40,000 lives.The U.S. has claimed the YPG/PKK is an "ally" in the fight against Daesh, over Turkey's objections that you cannot use one terrorist group to fight another.Turkey has repeatedly cited evidence that the YPG is no different from the PKK.
Turkey against planned US observation points in Syria
Turkish and Russian defense ministers discussed latest situation in Syria's norhwestern Idlib and Tal Rifaat in a phone conversation on Saturday, according to Turkish official sources.The sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said Hulusi Akar and Sergei Shoigu discussed regional security issues in framework of Sochi agreement.In the conversation, technical and tactical measures to be taken in the field were specified, the sources said.Akar and Shoigu also confirmed their consensus about joint work on ensuring and maintaining peace and security in Idlib and Tal Rifaat, the sources added.After a Sept. 17 meeting in Sochi between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the two sides agreed to set up a demilitarized zone -- in which acts of aggression are expressly prohibited -- in Syria’s Idlib province.Under the terms of the deal, opposition groups in Idlib will remain in areas in which they are already present, while Russia and Turkey will carry out joint patrols in the area to prevent a resumption of fighting.Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity.Turkish officials help Syrian teen reunite with familySyrian Turkmens to unite under single flag
Turkish, Russian ministers discuss Idlib, Tal Rifaat
"The only party with ability and technology to perform a chemical attack is the Assad regime," he said.
Naji Mustafa, the spokesman of National Front for Liberation, the largest umbrella military group in Idlib, said on Telegram that they rejected the claims by Assad regime, blaming the regime for covering up its massacres with such news.
Russia claimed that the chemical attack was performed through mortars. However, they don’t have the capability to turn chemical material liquid into the gas as they don't have enough ignition power to trigger the chemical reaction.
Therefore, chemical attacks are performed through planes or long/short-range missiles.
Retaliation on FSA
Following the chemical attack allegations, Russia carried out airstrikes on FSA elements in Rashideen, the frontline between Idlib de-escalation zone and Aleppo.
The plane observatory of the opposition said on social media that "three Russian fighter jets took off from the Khmeimim airbase and targeted Rashideen region."
Russian Ministry of Defense shared information on the aerial operation around 4.00 p.m. local time (1300 GMT), adding that it targeted groups allegedly involved in the attack.
Since early morning the Assad regime and Iranian-backed groups have been shelling and firing rockets towards Idlib's Jarjanaz and al-Tamanah towns and Hama's al-Lataminah and Kafr Zita districts.
On September 17, Turkey and Russia inked the Sochi agreement; however, 37 civilians have been killed by the regime and ally attacks in Idlib de-escalation zone since then whereas scores of civilians were left injured.
At least five civilians were killed in attacks by regime forces and allied militias in Syria’s northern Idlib province, according to the White Helmets civil defense agency on Saturday.Regime forces and Iran-backed militias attacked residential buildings and schools in the town of Jarjanazin in the province’s eastern countryside, according to an Anadolu Agency reporter in the area.“The attacks took place as students were leaving schools,” White Helmets official Mustafa Haj Yousuf told Anadolu Agency.“Two students and three women were killed in the attacks,” he said.At least 32 civilians are estimated to have been killed and scores injured in similar attacks by regime forces and allied militias in Idlib since mid-September.After a meeting in Sochi between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Sept. 17, the two sides agreed to set up a demilitarized zone -- in which acts of aggression are expressly prohibited -- in Idlib.Under the terms of the deal, opposition groups in Idlib will remain in areas in which they are already present, while Russia and Turkey will carry out joint patrols in the area to prevent a resumption of fighting.Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity.Turkish, Russian ministers discuss Idlib, Tal Rifaat
Five civilians killed in regime attacks in Syria’s Idlib
A teenage Syrian girl, who received treatment in Turkey after suffering from injuries in her country's northwestern Idlib province, reunited with her family on Friday.Officials from Turkey's Family, Labor and Social Services Ministry, the Turkish Red Crescent and the governorship of southern Hatay province made 14-year-old E.H.Y.'s dream to see her parents after one-and-a-half years come true.She had undergone multiple surgeries due to the effects of the blast in her war-stricken country, and asked Turkish officials to help her reunite with her family after recovering.Meeting at the Yayladagi Border Crossing into Syria in Hatay, the family and officials burst into tears of joy.E.H.Y said she is very happy to meet her family."I was heavily injured after a bomb exploded near our home in Idlib. They brought me to Turkey alone. Fortunately received treatment here and recovered," she said."When I came to Turkey, my family was in Syria and I hadn't heard from anyone for a long time," she said, thanking the officials for their efforts.Meanwhile the girl's mother expressed her happiness for meeting her daughter after such a long time.
Turkish officials help Syrian teen reunite with family