The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

“Putin – Erdogan – Rouhani” Summit, one year on : nearly 2,000,000 civilians displaced, 300 areas fall to Russian-backed regime forces, and nearly 2,000 civilians among 7,800 killed

A whole year passed after the trilateral summit attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Russian president Vladimir Putin,  and Hassan Rouhani the president of Iran in mid February 2019. Over this year, Syrian Observatory activists tracked and documented all major developments on the ground and the systematic killing and displacement in the “de-escalation” zone, stretching from the north-eastern Latakia mountains to Aleppo north-western suburbs passing through both Hama and Idlib countryside.

With Russian ground and air support, regime forces have captured nearly 300 areas since late April 2019, the start date of the fiercest military escalation in the area. More than 220 areas have been captured in Idlib and Aleppo after the beginning of the recent military operation on the 24th of January 2020.

In Idlib, regime forces captured the following 102 villages and towns: (1) Telmans, (2) Ma’ar Shmasha, (3) Deir Sharqi, (4) Deir Al-Gharbi, (5) Ma’ar Shmarin, (6) Ma’rata, (7) Al-Ghadfa, (8) Ma’ar Shourin, (9) Al-Za’alana, (10) Al-Dana, (11) Tal Sheikh, (12) Sawami’e, (13) Khirbet Mezyan, (14) Masaran, (15) Bsida, (16) Taqana, (17) Babolin, (18) Kafr Bassin, (19) Marhatat, (20) Hamidia, (21) Dar Al-Salaam, (22) Salhia, (23) Kafruma, (24) Maarrat Al-Nu’man city, (25) Wadi Al-Daif, (26) Hantutin, (27) Al-Jarrada, (28) Al-Ruwayha, (29) Al-Qahiryah, (30) Khan al-Sobol town, (31) Mardebseh, (32) Al-Hartamiyah, Qamhana, (33) Abu Juraif, (34) Tal Khatrah, (35) Tal Musaytif, (36) Al-Kana’es, (37) Karsyan, (38) Hish, (39) Kafr Mazdah, (40) Jabbalah, (41) Muqah, (42) Al-Amudiyah, (43) Armanya, (44) Kafr Batikh, (45) Dadikh, (46) Luf, (47) Anqarati, (48) Jubas, (49) Sannan, (50) Zakkar, (51) Tarnabeh, (52) Al-Nayrab, (53) Mardikh, (54) Tal Mardikh, (55) Kaddur, (56) Al-Ruwayha, (57) the Abandoned Battalion, (58) Al-Balisah, (59) Al-Wasitah, (60) Kuwayris, (61) Tal Al-Agher, (62) Al-Mushayrafah, (63) Tawil Al-Halib, (64) Al-Raqim, (65) Jadidat Al-Khatrah, (66) Sheikh Idrees, (67) Baj’as, (68) Al-Rayyan, (69) Tal Al-Rumman, (70) Parisa, (71) al-Hammamat, (72) Tal al-Sultan, (73) Om Sharshuh, (74) al-Khashakhish, (75) Tal Ibrahim, (76) Jabal al-Taweel, (77) Mas’adah, (78) Ras Al-Ain, (79) Shuha, (80) Kafr Amim, (81) Tal Rihan, (82) Al-Rasafah, (83) Islamin, (84) Abu Al-Khashah, (85) Tal Al-Tuqan, (86) Jlas, (87) Sheikh Mansur, (88) Al-Duwayrah, (89) Saraqeb, (90) Afes, (91) Maarrat Al-Na’saan and other villages, hills and positions in the eastern and south-eastern countryside of Idlib).

Meanwhile, regime forces managed to take control of more 118 areas in Aleppo; they ara as follows: (1) Khan Tuman, (2) warehouses of Khan Tuman, (3) Al-Khalidyah, (4) Rajam, (5)Hazmer Hills, (6) Kherbet Kharas, (7) Tal Al-Zaytun, (8) Maarata, (9) Al-Rashideen fifth sector, (10) Zammar, (11) Jazraya, (12) Othmaniyah Kaberah, (13) Talafeh, Tal Tabarez, (14) Maharem, (15) Khawwari, (16) Al-Qal’ajiyah, Khalseh, (17) Zitan, (18) Berneh, (19) Al-Huwayr, (20) Abad, (21) I’jaz, (22) Sheikh Ahmed, (23) Tal Karatin, (24) Al-Zahiryah Farm, (25) Al-Aaseriyah, (26) Mak-hala, (27) Rasm Al-Ward, (28) Um Atabah, (29) Rasm Al-Eis, (30) Rasm Saharij, (31) Jib Al-Kas, (32) Bans, Al-Eis, (33) Al-Eis Hill, (34) Al-Kusaybiyah, (35) Al-Bawabiyah, (36) Al-Talhiyah, (37) Tal Haddiyah, (38) IKARDA, (39) Al-Salihyah, (40) Al-Barqum, (41) Al-Zarbah, (42) Al-Kammari, (43) Al-Kalariyah, (44) Kafr Halab, (45) Al-Qanater, (46) Kherbet Jazraya, (47) Miznaz, (48) Al-Rashideen 4th sector, (49) Zaid neighborhood, (50) Abu Shlim, (51) Tal Klayriyah, (52) Khan Al-Asal, (53) Arbikh, (54) Sheikh Ali, (55) Arradah, (56) Arnaz, (57) Al-Muhandiseen first countryside, (58) Kafr Jum, (59) Zahrat Al-Mada’en, (60) Al-Shameko, (61) Al-Muhandiseen second countryside, (62) Al-Sawma’a roundabout, (63) Urm Al-Sughra, (64) Urm Al-Kubra, (65) Jam’eyyat Al-Radwan, (66) the 46th Regiment, (67) Kafr Naha, (68) the area of the scientific research center, (69) Jam’eyyat Al-Kahrabaa, (70) Aajil, Owayjil, (71) Al-Mansurah, (72) the northern Al-Rashideen, (73) Sadiyeh, (74) Police School, (75) Al-Shuwayhana, (76) Tallat Al-Shuwayhana, (77) Kafr Da’el, (78) Hayyan, (79) Beyanoun, (80) Tal Musaybin, (81) Babis, (82) Maarrat Al-Artiq, (83) Bashtara, (84) Jam’eyyat Al-Hadi, (85) Haritan, (86) Anadan, (87) Kafr Hamra, (88) the second Jam’eyyat Al-Kahrabaa, (89) Jam’eyyat Azaar, (90) Tal Al-Nabi Nu’man, (91) Jam’eyyat Al-Fanar, (92) Bashqatin, (93) Beit Ghazi, (94) Al-Houta, (95) Qayloun, (96) Jam’eyyat Al-Itihad Al-Arabi, (97) Jam’eyyat Al-Muharibin, (98) Majinah, (99) Jam’eyyat Al-Zahraa, (100) Layramoun, (101) Yaqed Al-Adas, (102) Kafr Basin, (103) Sheikh Aqil, (104) Hur, (105) Al-Qasimiyah, (106) Basartoun, (107) Anjara, (108) Al-Salloum, (109) Qabtan (110) Al-Jabal, (111) Bala and other positions and hills in the area.

In November 2019, the Syrian regime took control of Al Mshairfeh, Al Zarzour and Umm Elkhalayel located in south-east Idlib).

While in August, regime forces rcovered the following towns and villages (1) Al Khwayn farms, (2) Al Zarzour, (3) Tal Aghbar, (4) Al-Arbaeen, (5) Al-Zakat, (6) Al Sakher, (7) Al Jissat, (8) Al Sayyad hill, (9) Kafr Zeita town and some points west of it, (10) Al-Ltamnah, (11) Al-Sayyad, (12) Al-Boida, (13) Maar kabeh, (14) Latmin, (15) Lahaya, (16) Murek in northern Hama countryside, in addition to other areas in the southern countryside of Idlib represented by (1) Khan Sheikhoun city, (2) Al-Skik, (3) Tal Skik, (4) Taari, (5) Tal Taari, (6) Hobait, (7) Abidin, (8) Magher al-Hamam, (9) Magher al-Hintah, (10) Kafr Ain, (11) Tal Aas, (12) Madaya, (13) Al-Mardam, (14) Al-Mantar Farms, (15) Kafridon, (16) Al Sabbaghia and other hills, farms and points in the southern sector of the Idlib countryside.

Between late April and early August, regime forces took control of (1) Al-Qassabia, (2) Humayrat, (3) Hardana, (4) Qaroutyah, (5) Kirata, (6) Qalaat Al Madiq, (7) Karkat, (8) Twaineh, (9) Kafrenabuda, (10) Al-Bana, (11) Tal Osman, (12) Al-Mestariha, (13) Al-Sharia, (14) Bab al-Taka, (15) Al-Jabria, (16) Tal Hawash, (17) Tobeh, (18) Sheikh Idris, (19) Al-Muhajereen, (20) Al Hamra, (21) Al Hawiz, (22) Hasrayah, (23) Abu Raaida, (24) Al-Aziziya and (25) Al-Rai regions.

Syrian Observatory activists also confirmed that more than 40 hospitals and medical facilities were put out of service due to the intensive bombardment, mainly inflicted by Russia; those hospitals are (1) Kafr Zita Hospital, (2) Jisr Al-Shughur Hospital, (3) Kiwan Hospital in Kafr Oweid, (4) Sham Central Hospital, (5) Kafr Nubl Surgical Hospital, (6) the hospitals of Al-Sayedah Mariam (Saint Mary), (7) Al-Khatib and (8) Al-Orient in Kafr Nubl, (9) Nabd Al-Hayat Hospital in Hass, (10) Al-Tah Hospital, (11) Serjah Hospital, (12) Balshon Hospital and (13) the 112 Hospital in Qalaat al-Madiq, (14) Al-Magharah Hospital and (15) Sham Hospital in Al-Lataminah town, (16) a specialist hospital in Hawwash village, (17) a maternity hospital in Tremla, (18) Al-Amal Hospital in Kansafra, (19) Al-Fardus, (20) Al-Kenanah, and other medical and health facilities in Kafr Nabudah, Maarrat Hurmah, Al-Hbit, Rakaya, Kafrumah, the center of Al-Ghab, Khan Shaykhun, Hish and other areas Idlib, Aleppo and Hama countryside)).

During the same period, between the 15th of February 2019 and today, Observatory activists documented the use of internationally prohibited substances by regime forces in ground bombardment, which burned thousands of acres of agricultural land in the southern and western parts of Khan Sheikhoun, Al-Hobait, Abidin, The outskirts of Kafr Sajnah, Kafr Ain, and other areas within the southern sector of the countryside of Idlib, Harsh al-Skebiyeh, Tal Hadya and IKARDA area in the southern countryside of Aleppo, and Kafr Zitah and Latamanh in the northern countryside of Hama.

In addition, activists documented looting, thefts and ransacking  of civilians’ houses, shops and crops by the regime forces and loyalists in areas recently captured.

Since late April 2019, Syrian Observatory activists have also documented the displacement of nearly 2,000,000 civilians fleeing the Russian and regime brutality. A large number of those IDPs are staying in the open in nearby agricultural land,  while others have chosen to go  to their relatives in the depth of Idlib city and the northern and north-western parts of Aleppo. Many others resorted to refugee camps on the border with Iskenderun region.

It is worth mentioning that this area has seen second-time or multiple-times displacements, as the regime and Russian intensive military operations forced many families in areas in Hama, Idlib and Aleppo to flee once again to other places. The warlords’ practices and profiteering contributed to the  worsening of this humanitarian crisis and suffering; one example, among many, is the hike of house prices and rent to a level unaffordable by the many. Meanwhile, the Turkish Jandarma continue killing the Syrians who search for a save haven on the border with Turkey, the “de-escalation” guarantor.

Over this year, from the 15th of February 2019 to-date , Observatory activists have documented the death of 7,789 people in “Putin – Erdogan” area:

1,964 civilians, including 521 children and 360 women were killed by Russian airstrikes and regime and factions’ rocket shelling. Of the total death toll, there were 145 civilian fatalities, including 39 children and 25 women, all killed in opposition factions’ shelling on regime-held areas.

2,052 jihadis among 3,008 opposition fighters were killed in bombardment and fierce clashes.

2,817 regime soldiers and loyalists were killed in the same period.