“Putin-Erdogan” area in April 2023 | 112 casualties in acts of violence and nearly 50 fatalities among regime forces and their proxies in escalated operations by HTS-led factions

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 April 2023, 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:

 

 

Acts of violence leave casualties

 

In April 2023, SOHR documented the death of 59 people in acts of violence in the “de-escalation zone;” they are as follows:

 

-Seven civilians including a child and a woman:

 

• A child and a woman were killed by regime forces.

 

• Five civilians were killed in family infightings.

 

-Four members of rebel and jihadist factions:

 

• Three members, including two jihadists, were killed by regime forces.

 

• A jihadist was killed in an attack by a Coalition drone.

 

-48 members of regime forces, including a militiaman of the Afghan “Liwaa Fatemiyoun” and a member of the Syrian Hezbollah, were killed by rebels and jihadists.

 

In addition, acts of violence in the past month left 53 civilians and combatants injured.

 

 

Military escalation: Scores of operations leave casualties

 

In April, SOHR documented the death of a child and a woman and the injury of 12 other civilians, mostly children, in bombardment by regime forces.

 

Also, SOHR activists documented 40 operations in the “de-escalation zone” in the past month, including attacks, gunfire by snipers, bombardment and clashes, which left 48 combatants dead. In addition, these operations left over 31 combatants injured. The fatalities can be distributed as follows:

 

• 48 members of regime forces, including a militiaman of the Afghan “Liwaa Fatemiyoun” and a member of the Syrian Hezbollah.

 

• A member of Al-Sham Corps.

 

• A jihadist of Hurras Al-Din.

 

• An HTS member.

 

Further details of April’s operations in the “de-escalation zone” can be summarised as follows:

 

• April 1: Three regime soldiers were killed in clashes with the HTS-backed brigade of “Omar Ibn Al-Khattab” following a failed attempt by regime forces to advance into the frontline of the 46^th Regiment and Kafr Ammah in the western countryside of Aleppo.

 

• April 1: Three regime soldiers were killed in clashes with the HTS-backed brigade of “Omar Ibn Al-Khattab” following a failed attempt by regime forces to advance into the frontline of the 46th Regiment and Kafr Ammah in the western countryside of Aleppo.

 

• April 1: Two regime soldiers were killed, after being targeted by HTS members, while trying to pull the bodies of three soldiers who were killed earlier that day during clashes between members of “Omar Bin Al-Khatab” brigade of HTS and regime forces that tried to advance into the frontlines of the 46th Regiment and Kafar Amah in the western countryside of Aleppo.

 

• April 1: A non-commissioned officer of the Republic Guards’ 30th Division of the regime was killed by factions of “Al-Fath Al-Mubin” operation room, due to the exchanged shelling on Ruwaiha frontline in Idlib countryside.

 

• April 1: A member of “Al-Sham Legion” was killed and another was injured due to an artillery shelling by the regime forces on positions of the National Front for Liberation on Binin frontline in Jabal Al-Zawiyah southern of Idlib.

 

• April 2: A non-commissioned officer of the regime forces was killed in an attack with missiles by HTS on positions of the regime on the frontline of Kawkaba in southern Idlib countryside.

 

• April 2: A regime soldier was shot dead by members of “Al-Fath Al-Mubin” in Lattakia countryside.

 

• April 4: A regime soldier was shot dead by HTS on the 46th Regiment frontline in western Aleppo countryside.

 

• April 5: A regime soldier was killed during the exchange of bombardment between “HTS” and regime forces on the frontlines of Sahil Al-Ghab area in the western countryside of Hama

 

• April 6: A regime soldier was shot dead by HTS on the frontline of Afis town in eastern Idlib countryside

 

• April 7: A regime soldier was killed by artillery shelling by factions of Al-Fath Al-Mubin operation room on the frontline of 46th Regiment in western Aleppo countryside.

 

• April 7: A member of “Horras Al-Dein” faction was killed in a sneak attack carried out by independent groups on regime positions on the frontline of Jabal Al-Turkman in northern Lattakia countryside

 

• April 9: A regime soldier was killed by the missile shelling and exchanged clashes between regime forces and factions of “Al-Fath Al-Mubin” operation room on Kafr Amma frontline in western Aleppo countryside.

 

• April 9: A child was killed and four others were injured when regime forces fired artillery shells on residential negihbourhoods in Sarmin town in eastern Idlib countryside.

 

• April 9: A regime soldier was shot dead by HTS members on Basraton frontline western of Aleppo.

 

• April 10: Two regime soldiers were shot dead by sniper units of the factions of “Al-Fath Al-Mubin” operation room on Al-Kabina frontline in northern Lattakia countryside.

 

• April 11: A regime soldier was shot dead by a sniper of “Ansar Al-Tawheed Battalion” on the frontline of Al-Dara Al-Kabir village in the southern countryside of Idlib.

 

• April 11: Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham fired a rocket, targeting a regime military vehicle on the frontline of the 46th Regiment in the western countryside of Aleppo in the “de-escalation zone.” The attack left three soldiers dead and six others injured.

 

• April 11: A member of Iran-backed Luwaa Fatimyon died in an attack by independent jihadist groups in Jabal Al-Turkman in Lattakia countryside.

 

• April 12: A regime soldier died in exchanged ground shelling between “Al-Fath Al-Mubin” operation room and regime forces on frontlines of northern Lattakia countryside.

 

• April 12: A regime soldier was killed in an artillery shelling by factions of “Al-Fath Al-Mubin” operation room on a frontline of Jabal Al-Zawiyah in southern Idlib countryside.

 

• April 13: A regime soldier was shot dead by a sniper of a faction of “Al-Fath Al-Mubin” operations room on a frontline in Jabal Al-Turkman in the northern countryside of Latakia.

 

• April 14: A regime soldier was shot dead by factions of “Al-Fath Al-Mubin” operation room on Jabhat Mokhas in southern Idlib countryside.

 

• April 15: A regime soldier was killed in clashes that erupted between regime forces and factions of “Al-Fath Al-Mubin” operation room on a frontline of Jabal Al-Turkman in Lattakia countryside.

 

• April 15: Two regime soldiers were killed in violent clashes with factions of “Al-Fath Al-Mubin” operation room, in a sneak attack on regime positions at the frontline of Al-Sirmaniya western of Hama.

 

• April 16: Two regime soldiers were killed in an attack by “special forces” of “Liwaa Abdulrahman Bin Ouf” which operates under the banner of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham on regime positions in Basrtoun in the western countryside of Aleppo. In addition, several HTS members were injured in clashes and bombardment.

 

• April 17: A regime soldier was shot dead by members of HTS on frontline of Basraton town.

 

• April 18: A regime soldier was shot dead by members of “Ansar Al-Tawhed” faction on the frontline of Al-Malaja village in southern Idlib countryside within “Putin-Erdogan” area.

 

• April 18: A regime soldier was killed on frontline of Orm Al-Kobra in Aleppo countryside, where HTS targeted a dash and a machinegun with “SPG-9” shells, destroying them and killing a regime soldier.

 

• April 19: Two regime soldiers were shot dead by “Al-Fath Al-Mubin” operation room on the frontlines of Al-Barij and Al-Fatatra in southern Idlib countryside.

 

• April 20: Three regime soldiers were killed in violent clashes between the HTS-backed “Omar Ibn Al-Khatab” Brigade and regime forces on Al-Wasetah frontline in the western countryside of Aleppo. The clashes coincided with exchange of artillery and rocket fire.

 

• April 21: A regime soldier was shot dead by factions of “Al-Fath Al-Mubin” operation room on the frontline of Jabal Abo Ali in Lattakia countryside.

 

• April 23: A regime soldier was killed in exchanged shelling between factions of “Al-Fath Al-Mubin” operation room and regime forces within “Putin-Erdogan” area in Hama.

 

• April 25: A woman was killed and four people of one family were injured, including two girls one of whom is an infant, due to ground shelling by the regime on houses of civilians in Ma’arablit village eastern of Ariha city southern of Idlib.

 

• April 26: A regime soldier was killed by the bombardment of factions of “Al-Fath Al-Mubin” operations room on the frontline of Nahshba in the northern countryside of Latakia.

 

• April 27: A Syrian member working with Lebanese “Hezbollah” or what is known as Syrian “Hezbollah” was killed after being targeted by the faction on the 46th Regiment in the western countryside of Aleppo.

 

 

Hundreds of shells hit more than 40 positions

 

Suspension of Russian airstrikes on the “de-escalation zone” continued in April. However, SOHR sources reported ongoing bombardment by regime ground forces and their proxies, where more than 1,300 artillery shells and rockets hit military and residential positions in areas under the control of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) and Jihadist groups and factions. The attacks targeted positions in the rural areas of Aleppo, Idlib, Hama and Latakia.

 

Regime attacks are distributed regionally as follows:

 

• Aleppo: 400 shells and rockets hit the villages of Kafr Nouran, Kafr Amah, Taqad, Tadeel, Kafr Taal, the surrounding areas of Al-Atareb.

 

• Idlib: 450 shells and rockets hit the villages of Bayanin, Hursh Bayanin, Sfouhen, Al-Rouwayah, Al-Fatirah, Kansafra, Maarrat Alya, Deir Sonbol, Al-Barah, Maarat Al-Naasan, Ghaniyah, Sheikh Sandiyan, Fulayfel, Mantaf, Marblit, Kadourah, Saan, Afes, Musaybeen, Al-Nayreb and Al-Kufair.

 

• Hama: 250 shells and rockets hit Al-Sarmaniya, Al-Mabaqer, Al-Mashyak, Al-Ankawi, Kharbah Al-Naqous, Tel Waset, Al-Mansourah, Al-Qarqour and Al-Qahera.

 

• Latakia countryside: 200 shells and rockets hit Al-Tuffahiyah frontline, Al-Safiyyat, the hills of Kabanah, Deir Al-Akrad and other frontline in Jabal Al-Turkman.

 

 

Arbitrary arrests and general pardon for criminal offences

 

In April, Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham arbitrarily arrested several individuals, some for their political affiliation, issued a general pardon for criminal offences a few days before Eid Al-Fitr and dismantled petrol stations for dominating on the region’s economy. Further details of these events can be summarised as follows:

 

• April 4: A group of members of HTS’ security service arrested a former jihadist called “Abo Jindal” in Al-Fawa’a town near Idlib city, for “refusing to sign a contract that favors the Salvation Government.” The jihadist said in a statement “We freed these houses by our blood, why would you take them from us”, and refused to pay rent of the house. It is worth noting that he works with the “Salvation Government” as a guard in the building, and he is one of first people to join “Jabhat Al-Nasra” and he retired from joining combats.

 

• April 13: The “Salvation Government” issued a general pardon for the perpetrators of all criminal offences, after having obtained “certificate of good conduct.” The pardon excludes individuals involved in crimes affecting the general security, retribution, kidnaps, counterfeiting currency, armed robberies and thefts, penalties of which exceed six months in prison.

 

• April 16: A group of members of the HTS-backed general security arrested two university students, one in the Faculty of Medicine and the other is graduates of the Faculty of Agriculture, from Al-Janoudiyah in the western countryside of Idlib for unknown reasons. The two young men, who are affiliated to the “Islamic Party of Liberation,” were arrested while they were travelling on a motorcycle on the road between Al-Janoudiyah and Jisr Al-Shughour.

 

• April 19: Groups of HTS members dismantled petrol stations near Al-Ghazawiyah town in the areas separating HTS-controlled areas from areas controlled by Al-Sham Corps and Turkish-backed factions. According to SOHR sources, a convoy of several vehicles and four-wheel drive vehicles (4×4) of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham crossed through a checkpoint dominated by Al-Sham Corps and expelled HTS members who were working in these petrol stations, before dismantling the stations.

 

• April 25: Unknown individuals stuck fliers on walls in the HTS-controlled town of Kafr Rouhin in Idlib countryside, criticising the policy of HTS and calling dor the disclosure of the fate of detainees and their immediate release. Some of the fliers read “stop injustice,” and “oh America’s agents, set the detainees free.” This followed the arrest campaign by Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham which targeted civilians randomly. The campaign was followed by frequent demonstrations and protests opposing HTS policy. However, the protestors’ demands remained unfulfilled, as the fate of detainees in HTS custody remains unknown.

 

 

Family infighting leaves five people dead in Atmah

 

Five civilians were killed and seven others were injured on April 13 in clashes in Atmah town in northern Idlib countryside between two displaced families from Al-Tarimsa town in Hama countryside. The clashes followed disputes over the dispute of a piece of land inside a camp.

 

 

Drone targets senior ISIS commander in northern Idlib

 

On April 3, an ISIS commander was killed in an attack by a Coalition drone near his house near the road between Kafatayn and Kelli, as he was walking, while making a phone call. Washington later admitted the death of an ISIS commander known as “Iyad Al-Jeboury,” who moved to live in Idlib ten days earlier as a Syrian citizen called “Khaled,” where a drone targeted him on the road between Kafatayn and Kelli in the northern countryside of Idlib. US stated that the commander was responsible for planning for attacks in Europe.

 

 

HTS storms posts of Al-Sham Corps

 

Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham brought in ten vehicles carrying a group of its forces to Al-Bara town in Jabal Al-Zawiyah in Idlib countryside on April 12, where those forces stormed posts of Al-Sham Corps which operates under the banner of the “National Liberation Front,” amid heavy deployment of security forces. This followed a dispute between the two sides over unknown reasons. Meanwhile, HTS arrested several members of Al-Sham Corps.

 

 

Protestors express rejection of normalising relations with Syrian regime

 

Residents in Idlib and areas in north-west Syria expressed their rejection of the efforts by the Arab world to normalise relations with the Syrian regime which has committed hundreds of massacres and keeps holding hundreds of thousands of detainees in its prisons, where on April 5, hundreds of residents of Idlib city went out on protests rejecting normalization with Al-Assad’s regime, following the latest agreements between the deputy foreign ministers of Syrian, Turkish, Iranian and Russian regimes in Russia. The protestors held banners that read: “no normalization with murderers”.. “what is forcingly taken is only forcingly retrieved”.. “murderer of children must be held accountable.”

 

While on April 23, residents staged a mass demonstration in Idlib city centre, denouncing ongoing efforts to normalise relations with Al-Assad’s regime under the slogan “no to normalisation with the criminal Al-Assad.” The protestors chanted slogans rejecting the Arab countries’ efforts to normalising relations with the regime, stressing the continuation of the Syrian Revolution until the toppling of the head of the Syrian regime and the fulfilling of their demands.

 

The protestors also called for protecting refugees in Lebanon and other countryside against the racist campaigns and violations they have subjected to, lifting placards with slogans written on them demanding the Arabs not to rehabilitate the regime or normalising relations with it. The demonstrations followed calls by activists on Social media.

 

 

UN delegation arrives in north-west Syria and tour camps and villages in west Idlib countryside

 

A delegation of the UN visited Al-Maland, Al-Zawf, Khirbat Al-Jouz and Al-Hanboshiya villages in western Idlib countryside to check the camps that are damaged by storms and the villages that were damaged by the earthquake.

 

The Delegation headed to camps in the western countryside of Idlib, which accommodate thousands of families who were displaced from their areas in different Syrian provinces due to the violent military battles by Russian and regime forces. That area also hosts camps which were recently established to accommodate families affected by the devastating earthquake.

 

 

Explosion of unexploded blasting cap injures woman and her two children

 

A woman and her two children sustained serious injuries on April 23, after the explosion of a blasting cap of an unexploded grenade in Yadama village in western Idlib, which is controlled by Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham.

 

It is worth noting that war remnants are prevalent over large geographical areas across Syria, amid inaction by authorities and local organisations which have exerted no efforts to remove them.

 

 

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.