Russian-Turkish agreement | Locals stage protests in Idlib and Aleppo, rejecting the decision to open crossings between areas held by factions and regime-held areas

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has monitored residents of the city of Idlib staging a vigil, protesting the Russian-Turkish agreement to open crossings with the Syrian regime-held areas. The protesters carried placards demanding the overthrow of the regime and the implementation of UN resolution 2254.

The town of Janderas in Afrin countryside also witnessed a similar protests.

Meanwhile, SOHR sources have reported that the regime forces reopened the Saraqeb crossing, east of Idlib, the crossing, however, witnessed no civilian movement or commercial traffic.

SOHR sources have reported today that the rebels, Islamic and jihadist factions in the “de-escalation zone”, stretching from the north-east mountains of Latakia, to the north-western suburbs of Aleppo city through rural Hama and Idlib, have rejected the Russian-Turkish agreement on opening crossings in Idlib and Aleppo between areas held by factions and jihadists and regime-held areas.

Military leaders of the “National Liberation Front”, the commander of the “Jaysh Al-Izza” faction and other military leaders expressed their refusal to open crossings through statements and posts on social media. However, no faction in particular disclosed its clear position on the issue of the three crossings.

This comes after the Russian Defense Ministry announced that it has reached an agreement with the Turkish side to reopen three crossings in the Idlib and Aleppo regions in northern Syria to ease the humanitarian conditions in Turkish-backed areas.

The deputy director of the the Russian Ministry of Defense’s Hmeimim centre for reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria, marine major General Alexander Karpov, said during a press conference on Wednesday: “With the aim of lifting the isolation and practically removing the internal siege of civilians, a decision has been taken to reopen the Saraqeb and Meeznaz crossings in Idlib the “de-escalation zone” and the Abu Zaidin crossing in the Aleppo city.”

“We believe this action is a direct evidence of our commitment to a peaceful settlement of the Syrian crisis to the local and international communities,” Karpov said.

Karpov added that “this action will improve social conditions and de-escalate tensions in society due to the disruption of family contacts and difficult living conditions.”