The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

HTS erects soil barriers further blocking M4, and jihadi group threatens to attack the Russians and Turks

Syrian Observatory activists say that Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham erected soil barriers on Latakia-Aleppo international highway (M4), in the are between Al-Nayrab town and Ariha city. According to SOHR sources, over the past hours, HTS boosted these barriers which have been already exist on the key M4.

On the other hand, a video, circulated on media, showed several fighters of a jihadi faction on the M4, threatening to attack the Russians and Turkish in the case that they started patrolling the key highway.

On Sunday, SOHR sources confirmed that the Russian and Turkish forces failed to run their first joint patrol on Aleppo-Latakia international highway (M4), according to the deal agreed upon by Putin and Erdogan. The patrol started from Saraqeb town, east of Idlib, and reached Al-Nayrab town, then, returned and aborted the mission. The patrol was planned to tour other areas on the M4. However, the civilian sit-in demonstrations and jihadi groups’ threats prevented the patrol from completing it planned mission.

Hours ago, Observatory activists reported seeing more civilians arriving at Aleppo-Latakia international highway (M4). They cut off the key highway using rubber tires, blocking the way of the Turkish-Russian joint patrol and preventing them from patrolling the route that was agreed upon by Putin and Erdogan.

Russian and Turkish vehicles arrived in the area but the patrol did not make a move. Meanwhile, many reconnaissance drones were flying over the area.

On the other hand, several fighters of a jihadi group appeared in a video threatening to attack the joint patrol, one of whom was captured saying “We are on the highway, if the joint patrol is conducted we will attack it.”