“Putin-Erdogan” area in May 2022 | Ongoing attacks by Russian and regime forces on the “de-escalation zone”…public rejection of Erdogan’s statements about new incursion into Syria

The “de-escalation zone”, stretching from the north-eastern mountains of Latakia to the north-western suburbs of Aleppo city running through both Hama and Idlib, has been under an “alleged” and in-name-only ceasefire agreed upon after a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on March 5, 2020.

However, that region has experienced a noticeable escalation of military operations by Russian and regime forces and their loyal militias, including daily bombardment with tens of rockets and artillery shells and Russian airstrikes, which all have caused significant human losses and material damage. Meanwhile, Turkey, the “de-escalation” guarantor, seems satisfied with its “timid” bombardment of regime positions, which has not restrained this alarming military escalation which is mainly concentrated in the southern countryside of Idlib, as well as affecting east Idlib countryside, towns and villages of Sahl Al-Ghab in the north-western countryside of Hama, Latakia mountains and western Aleppo countryside.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has monitored and tracked all developments and violations against Syrian people in the “de-escalation zone” in May 2022, including the military escalation by Russian and regime forces, incidents and attacks, deteriorating security, instability and disastrous humanitarian situation. These key developments can be summarised in the following main points:

 

 

Ongoing Russian airstrikes

In May 2022, Russian fighter jets executed 16 airstrikes on several areas in the “de-escalation zone,” including six airstrikes carried out with air-to-air missiles, leaving several people injured.

Here are further details of Russian airstrikes monitored by SOHR activists:

• May 7: Russian fighter jets fired six air-to-air missiles on Maarat Misrin and Al-Bara in Idlib countryside.

• May 12: Russian fighter jets executed two airstrikes on Bayannin forest in southern Idlib countryside.

• May 13: Russian fighter jets carried out four airstrikes in the vicinity of the 111^th regiment in the western countryside of Aleppo.

• May 14: Four Russian airstrikes hit the vicinity of the villages of Mantaf, Kafr Lata and Ma’arzaf in Idlib countryside, injuring a civilian.

 

 

Hundreds of shells hit more than 30 positions

 

Beside the repeated Russian airstrikes on the “de-escalation zone,” regime ground attacks also continued in May. SOHR sources reported that more than 1,050 artillery shells and rockets were fired by the regime forces and their loyal militias on military and residential positions in areas under the control of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) and the Jihadist groups and factions. The attacks targeted more than 32 positions in the rural areas of Aleppo, Idlib, Hama and Latakia.

 

Regime attacks are distributed regionally as follows:

• Aleppo: 350 shells and rockets hit Al-Sheikh Suleiman, Taqad, Tadeel, Kafr Taal, Al-Qasr, Kafr Nouran, and Kafr Amah.

• Idlib: 400 shells and rockets hit Al-Nayrab, Majdaliya, Al-Rouwayah, Mantaf, Maarzaf, Mariyan, Bayanin, Deir Sonbul, Al-Barah, Fulayfil, Sfouhen, Al-Fatirah, Kafr Owid, Ain Larouz, Maarat Al-Naasan and the surrounding areas of Afes.

• Hama: 200 shells and rockets hit Al-Mashik, Al-Ankawi, Kharbah Al-Naqous, Tel Waset, Al-Mansourah and Al-Sermanyah.

• Latakia countryside: 100 shells and rockets hit the hills of Kabanah, Deir Al-Akrad and the frontline of Jabal Al-Turkman.

 

Ground bombardment and clashes leave casualties

 

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) activists documented the death of 20 people in May; they are as follows:

 

• Three members of regime forces, including an officer.

 

• Ten regime-backed Shia’a militiamen from Nebl and Al-Zahraa.

 

• Seven members of opposition factions, including one jihadist.

 

Here are further details:

 

• May 8: Six members of “Jaysh Al-Nasr” faction were killed in an attack by regime forces with a guided missile which targeted their vehicle on the frontline of Al-Qahera village in Sahl Al-Ghab area in north-western Hama.

 

• May 13: Ten regime-backed militiamen were killed in an attack with a guided missile fired by an opposition faction on a bus carrying regime-backed Shia’a militiamen from Nubl and Al-Zahraa towns. The attack took place on the frontline of Ainjara-Qabtan Al-Jabal in the western countryside of Aleppo.

 

• May 16: SOHR sources documented the death of a regime lieutenant-colonel in a rocket attack carried out by factions operating under the banner of “Al-Fath Al-Mubin” operations room on Kafr Nebl city in the southern countryside of Idlib.

 

• May 21: SOHR activists documented the death of two regime soldiers and injury of others in a suicide attack by a jihadist on a frontline in Kabana in Jabal Al-Akrad in the northern countryside of Latakia. The jihadist was also killed by regime forces in the attack.

 

 

Five fatalities in incidents of security chaos

 

SOHR activists documented five incidents of security disorder in HTS-held areas in Idlib city and surrounding villages in May, which left five people dead: Four civilians and one combatant.

 

 

Ongoing Turkish movements and public rejection of Erdogan and his statements about launching new military operation in north Syria

 

“Putin-Erdogan” area experienced military and security movements by Turkey, the “de-escalation” guarantor, as well as visits by senior Turkish officials. Specifically the Turkish Interior Minister, Süleyman Soylu, visited on May 4 Al-Kamounah camp, which hosts displaced people from several Syrian provinces, in Batabu area in the western countryside of Aleppo, near the Syria border with the Turkish Iskenderun region. According to SOHR sources, the Turkish minister came to the north Syria region to participate in the opening of a village with a residential complex established by Turkish organisations concerned with the Syrian affairs with the aim of settling displaced people.

 

A day later, May 5, a column of 17 Turkish military vehicles, including three tanks, left posts in Jabal Al-Zawiyah and crossed into Turkish territory via Kherbat Al-Jouz crossing in the western countryside of Idlib. While another column comprising 14 vehicles, including a tank and nearly 50 soldiers, entered Syria and headed to Turkish military posts in Idlib countryside.

 

While on May 11, Turkish forces combed the surrounding areas of the military post in Al-Ruwayha village in Jabal Al-Zawiyah in southern Idlib, after it had come under attack with machinegun fire by unidentified gunmen. The attack left no casualties. It is worth noting that Al-Ruwayha village, which is located to the north of Maarrat Al-Nu’man city, is a prominent frontline between opposition factions and regime forces.

 

On May 16, troops in Turkish posts and bases in the “de-escalation zone” were put on high alert following a visit by a delegation of the Turkish Defence Ministry, headed by the special forces commander who is in charge of the ground military operations in that region. During the visit, Turkish forces performed a military parade and live-fire drills.

 

Also, on May 17, a batch of Syrian fighters operating as auxiliary forces to Turkish forces in the “de-escalation zone” in Idlib headed to Turkey to attend a closed training course in Turkish military bases. This batch comprised 400 fighters who underwent strict military training by trainers of the Special Forces (Commandos) which are tasked with ground battles and combat operations in Syria. This course was designed to prepare special auxiliary forces of Turkish forces with the aim of carrying out difficult tasks in Syrian territory. Through these courses, Turkey also works on raising the military qualifications of Syrian fighters and control their number.

 

In the meantime, Al-Eis town in the southern countryside of Aleppo experienced several meetings on May 25 between Turkish and Iranian officers. According to SOHR sources, Turkish forces sought to keep the situation on the frontlines of the “de-escalation zone” calm in light of the expansion by Iranian forces and their proxy militias in Syria at the expense of Russia forces and their proxy militias which are preoccupied with the war in Ukraine.

 

Meanwhile, a demonstration took place on May 27 in Sarmin city in Idlib countryside, nearly one kilometre away from a Turkish military post. The demonstration was staged by tens of people who had been forced to displace from eastern and southern countryside of Idlib due to Russian-Turkish agreements following the latest military campaign by Russian and regime forces and Iranian-backed militias in that region. According to Observatory sources, the displaced people chanted slogans against Erdogan and condemned the potential military operation by Turkish forces, which is expected to target areas controlled by Syria Democratic Forces and Kurdish forces in north and north-east Syria, according to press releases and statements made by Erdogan regarding the establishment of a so-called “safe zone.” The demonstrators called for launching military operations to regain control of the areas which were captured recently by regime forces and Iranians in Idlib countryside with the aim of bringing displaced people back to their homes instead of forcing indigenous inhabitants to displace from their areas and replace them with refugees and other displaced Syrians. The demonstrators also opposed establishing cities and villages with the aim of resettling displaced people and refugees along the Syria-Turkey border.

 

 

Convoy of UN assistance crosses from regime-controlled areas into HTS-held areas

 

On May 16, SOHR activists reported seeing the arrival of a UN assistance convoy of 14 tracks in the HTS-controlled city of Sarmada on the Syria border with Iskenderun region in northern Aleppo. The convoy had crossed into that city through Tarnaba crossing with areas controlled by regime forces.

 

 

“Salvation Government” decreases weight and number of loaves of bread packs

 

The “Salvation Government” reduced the weight and number of loaves of each bread pack for the second time in a week. According to SOHR sources, the weight of a bread pack which costs five TL was reduced from 525 grams to 475 grams, while the number of loaves in each bread pack was reduced from six to five. This coincides with the ongoing freefall of the Turkish Lira which is adopted in north-west Syria region as the official currency, where Turkish Lira against the US dollar recorded 16 TL.

 

On May 18, the “Salvation Government” in Idlib had reduced the weight of bread packs to 525 grams instead of 550 grams per a pack. Moreover, the number of bread loaves was reduced to six from seven with keeping the price at five Turkish Liras.

 

 

Senior jihadist arrested and large-scale campaign targets drug dealers

 

On May 10, Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham launched a large-scale campaign in areas under its control in Idlib province, searching for suspects involved in drug business. According to SOHR sources, HTS deactivated internet and telecommunications services in some areas during the security campaign, as well as deploying tens of makeshift security checkpoints. HTS managed to arrest tens of drug dealers, before it reactivated internet and telecommunications services.

 

While on May 25, a security group of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham arrested a senior jihadist known as “Abu Al-Dardaa Al-Kurdi” in Harem area in northern Idlib. The jihadist is the deputy of the “Emir” of “Ansar Al-Islam” organisation and a prominent commander in the group.

 

 

Explosions of old ordnance leave casualties

 

Old landmines and unexploded war ordnance and proliferation of arms which are left within the reach of children are still posing threats to the safety and lives of civilians, along with the lack of awareness among residents.

 

In this context, SOHR activists reported on May 19 that a 17-year-old boy sustained serious injuries due to the explosion of an unexploded projectile of earlier bombardment by Russian and regime forces on farmlands in Kurin town in the south of Idlib.

 

Similarly, on May 26, a woman was killed and two of her children, a boy and a girl, were injured in the explosion of a grenade by mistake in their house in Mantaf village in Jabal Al-Zawiyah in the southern countryside of Idlib.

 

As a human rights organisation, we, at the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), call upon all international powers concerned with Syria’s affairs and the international community to intervene immediately and put an end to the bloodshed in Syria, as well as applying international humanitarian laws and keeping civilians away from military operations and conflicts.

We also demand that Russia and Turkey, the “de-escalation” guarantors, comply with the ceasefire agreement and stop all violations, including intensive bombardment and airstrikes, which only affect civilians who seek a safe haven in the “de-escalation zone”, fleeing from the repression of the Syrian regime and its security services.