“Putin-Erdogan” area in May 2023 | Resumption of airstrikes by Russian fighter jets…Russian officer among 29 fatalities in acts of violence…escalation of anti-HTS protests

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 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 May 2023, SOHR documented the death of 29 people in acts of violence in the “de-escalation zone;” they are as follows:

 

-Six civilians including a child and a woman:

 

• A civilian was killed by regime forces.

 

• Four civilians, including a little girl and a woman were killed in incidents of security disorder.

 

• A civilian was killed in an airstrike by an International Coalition drone.

 

-Three HTS members:

 

• Two were killed by regime forces.

 

• One was killed in an incident of security disorder.

 

-15 regime soldiers were killed by rebels and jihadists.

 

-A Russian officer was killed in bombardment by rebels and jihadists.

 

-Three unidentified persons were killed in incidents of security disorder.

 

-An ex-fighter was executed by HTS.

 

 

Airstrike by Coalition drone in Idlib leaves a civilian dead

 

On May 3, a Coalition drone targeted a civilian herding sheep in a farmland in Idlib countryside in north-west Syria, killing him immediately. The US Central Command announced then that the airstrike targeted a senior commander of “Al-Qaeda,” but it did not reveal any further information regarding the identity of that leader.

 

Reliable SOHR sources confirmed that the targeted person was a 60-year-old man called “Lotfy Hassan Masto,” and he was herding sheep in a farmland near Qorqanya village in Idlib countryside when he was attacked. SOHR activists asked locals if the victim participated in any military actions outside Syria, such as Iraq war, but they confirmed that he never left Syria neither for work nor participating in military actions.

 

 

Military escalation: Scores of operations leave casualties

 

Since early May, the “de-escalation zone” has experienced noticeable escalation of military operations between regime forces and their proxies on one hand, and Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham and opposition factions on the other, including exchange of bombardment and attacks. These operations left 19 fatalities; they are as follows:

 

• A civilian was killed in regime bombardment.

 

• 15 regime soldiers and loyalists, including a member of “Liwaa Al-Baqer.”

 

• A Russian officer was killed in bombardment by opposition factions.

 

• Two rebels.

 

In addition, 17 persons were sustained various injuries in 23 ground operations and one airstrike in the “de-escalation zone” in the past month.

 

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

 

• May 3: Two regime soldiers were killed and others were injured seriously, when rocket launchers of factions of “Al-Fath Amubin” operations room fired several missiles on regime headquarters on the frontline of Kafr Batikh in the south-east of Idlib. Meanwhile, regime forces were put on high alert and deployed troops on the same frontline.

 

• May 4: A regime soldier was seriously injured, after having been shot by a sniper of “Jaysh Al-Nasr” which operates under the banner of “Al-Fath Amubin” operations room on Sahl Al-Ghab frontline in the western countryside of Hama.

 

• May 6: Two regime soldiers were killed and three others sustained serious injuries in a suicidal operation by members of “Jaysh Al-Nasr” in regime positions on the frontline of Al-Amiqah village in Sahl AL-Ghab area in the western countryside of Hama.

 

• May 6: A regime soldier was killed and two other were injured by snipers of factions of “Al-Fath Al-Mubin” operations room on the frontline of Al-Burayj in the southern countryside of Idlib. Meanwhile, regime forces were put on high alert.

 

• May 8: A regime soldier was injured today morning, by snipers of “Al-Fath Al-Mubin” operations room, on the frontline of Dadikh in the eastern countryside of Idlib.

 

• May 10: A regime soldier was injured in a target by factions of “Al-Fath Al-Mubin” on the frontline of Afes in the eastern countryside of Idlib.

 

• May 10: A regime soldier from Asilah town in Musyaf countryside in Tartous, was killed in a target by factions of “Al-Fath Al-Mubin” operations room on the frontline of the western countryside of Aleppo.

 

• May 10: A sniper of Al-Zobair Bin Al-Awam faction of HTS was killed by regime shelling on frontlines of Al-Atareb in western Aleppo countryside.

 

• May 11: A regime soldier was injured by snipers of factions of “Al-Fath Al-Mubin” operations room, on the frontline of Aurem Al-Sughra village in the western countryside of Aleppo.

 

• May 11: regime captain was shot dead by a sniper of “Al-Fath Al-Mubin” operations room on a frontline in west Aleppo countryside.

 

• May 12: Two regime soldiers injured after being shot by factions of Al-Fath Al-Mubin operation room on the frontline of Basraton village in western Aleppo countryside.

 

• May 15: A civilian died of the wounds he had sustained in a artillery fire by regime forces on Kafr Ouwayd village in the southern countryside of Idlib.

 

• May 15: A regime solider from Al-Hasanah village in Tartus countryside was killed in bombardment by “Al-Fath Al-Mubin” operations roomon frontlines of western Aleppo.

 

• May 16: A regime soldier was injured, as he was shot by a sniper of “Jaysh Al-Nasr” faction during clashes between the two sides on the frontline of Sahl Al-Ghab area in north-western Hama.

 

• May 17: A regime soldier was shot dead by a sniper of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham on Kafr Nebl frontline in the southern countryside of Idlib.

 

• May 19: A regime officer from Al-Batyha village in the occupied Syrian Golan was killed due to bombardment by “Al-Fath Al-Mubin” operations room on the frontline of Al-Fataterah in south Idlib countryside.

 

• May 20: A regime lieutenant died of the wounds he had sustained in an attack by factions of “Al-Fath Al-Mubin” operations room with a guided missile on a regime position on the frontline of Al-Fataterah in south Idlib countryside.

 

• May 24: A member of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham was injured in artillery fire by regime forces on Kabana frontline in Jabal Al-Akrad in the northern countryside of Latakia.

 

• May 25: A military commander of Luwaa Mo’awiya Bin Aby Sofyan of HTS was killed, due to shelling and targeting between factions and regime forces, on the frontline of Kabana in northern Lattakia countryside.

 

• May 26: A regime soldier was killed and another was injured when factions of Al-Fath Al-Mubin operation room targeted positions of the regime forces in Tel Al-Hadada and frontline of Kabana in northern Lattakia countryside within “Putin-Erdogan” area.

 

• May 26: A Russian colonel, who was the Commander-in-chief of Russian Special Tasks Forces, was killed when Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham fired several shells on the headquarters of the regime forces command on Al-Jeb Al-Ahmar frontline in the northern countryside of Latakia.

 

• May 28: A regime soldier from Awj village in Masyaf in the western countryside of Hama was killed in artillery fire by factions of “Al-Fath Al-Mubin” operations room on the 46th Regiment frontline in the western countryside of Aleppo.

 

• May 29: A civilian and his two children were injured in gunfire by regime forces with heavy machineguns on houses in Ma’arat Al-Na’asan town in eastern of Idlib.

 

• May 30: egime soldier of the 45th Regiment (Special Forces) was killed in bombardment by Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham on Kabanah frontline in the northern countryside of Latakia.

 

• May 30: militiaman of the Iranian-backed militia of “Liwaa Al-Baqer” was killed in artillery fire by factions of “Al-Fath Al-Mubin” operations room on Al-Atareb frontline in the western countryside of Aleppo.

 

 

Renewed Russian airstrikes and hundreds of shells hit more than 40 positions

 

Russian fighter jets resumed their airstrikes on “Putin-Erdogan” area, after suspension of aerial operations for nearly six months, precisely since November 2022. On May 26, Russian fighter jets executed five airstrikes on the surrounding areas of Fulayfel and Sfuhen in Jabal Al-Zawiyah in the southern countryside of Idlib. However, no casualties were reported. Russian fighter jets executed a second round of airstrikes on May 29, targeting positions in Bazabour village and the surrounding areas of Jabal Al-Arba’in in Idlib countryside, which left a child injured.

 

On the other hand, SOHR sources reported ongoing bombardment by regime ground forces and their proxies, where more than 1,650 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: 600 shells and rockets hit Darat Izza city and the villages of Kafr Nouran, Kafr Amah, Sheikh Suleiman, Taqad, Tadeel, Kafr Taal, the surrounding areas of Al-Atareb.

 

• Idlib: 400 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, Sarmin, Afes, Musaybeen and Al-Nayreb.

 

• Hama: 300 shells and rockets hit Al-Sarmaniya, Al-Mabaqer, Al-Mashyak, Al-Ankawi, Kharbah Al-Naqous, Tel Waset, Al-Mansourah, Al-Qarqour, Al-Ziyyarah and Al-Qahera.

 

• Latakia countryside: 350 shells and rockets hit Al-Tuffahiyah frontline, Al-Safiyyat, the hills of Kabanah, Deir Al-Akrad and other frontline in Jabal Al-Turkman.

 

 

Incidents of security disorder leave eight fatalities

 

SOHR documented seven incidents of security disorder in areas controlled by Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham and opposition factions in Idlib city and surrounding villages in the past month. These incidents left eight fatalities:

 

• Four civilians, including a child and a woman.

 

• An HTS member.

 

• Three unidentified persons.

 

Here are further details of these incidents:

 

• May 7: A civilian was shot dead by his brother in Harim city north western of Idlib, after they had disputes over the ownership of a piece of land that belongs to the family.

 

• May 7: A member of the HTS-backed General Security service was killed by members of “Islamic Party of Liberation,” who opened fire on that member and his escort in Deir Hassan town and set fire to the car which they were travelling in.

 

• May 9: A little girl was killed by the explosion of a hand grenade thrown by a young man at her family’s tent in Al-Bashir camp in Al-Burdaqly area in the northern countryside of Idlib, after he was refused when he proposed to marry their daughter.

 

• May 16: A person was killed and his brother was injured after they were directly shot by unidentified gunmen driving a “Santa Fe” car, where they were taken inside a store selling car tires near Sarmada Square in northern Idlib countryside, while the gunmen fled to an unknown destination.

 

• May 18: A displaced girl from Hayaleen town in Hama countryside was killed in Al-Karamah camp on the Syria-Turkish border by her cousin, who is a member of a faction of the Turkish-backed “National Army.” The motives behind this murder remain unknown.

 

• May 18: Two unidentified bodies of young men wearing military uniform were found, one of which was decapitated, where they were killed a few days ago and found at the outskirts of Al-Mawzara village in southern Idlib countryside.

 

• May 21: The body of an unidentified young man in his thirties was found dead with gunshot wounds and dumped on a farmland in the west of Al-Mawzarah village in the southern countryside of Idlib. The body, which was left in that areas nearly ten days ago, was delivered by members of the outpost in Ihsim town to the directorate of forensic centre in Idlib. The reasons and motives behind this crime remain unknown.

 

 

HTS security services arrest over 80 people

 

Since May 6, areas controlled by Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham have experienced successive arrest campaigns, which targeted civilians, activists, individuals belonging to and affiliated with the “Islamic Party of Liberation,” jihadists and sharia officials.

 

These campaigns have led to the arrest of over 80 people, mostly individuals affiliated to the “Islamic Party of Liberation,” including a media activist and an “Imam” (preachers).

 

Further details of these campaigns can be summarised as follows:

 

• May 6: Members of the security service of HTS arrested nearly ten members of the jihadist “Horas Al-Dein” faction in Jabal Al-Zawiya and the vicinity of Idlib including three members of Horas Al-Dein, where they were arrested in the vicinity of Idlib city

 

• May 7: the general security service of “HTS” arrested three young men belonging to Hizb Al-Tahrir, two of them are from Al-Atareb city and the third is from Al-Saharah town in the western countryside of Aleppo

 

• May 7: HTS members arrested 17 suspects and members of the “Islamic Party of Liberation” in Deir Hassan village northern Idlib. Meanwhile, clashes with machineguns erupted between members of Hizb Al-Tahrir on one hand and members of HTS on the other hand in Deir Hassan village northern of Idlib.

 

• May 8: Security services of “HTS” launched a wide arresting campaign, targeting more than five houses in Deir Hassan village in the northern countryside of Idlib, where they arrested five persons on the charge of participating in the killing of a security member of HTS. HTS also launched an arrest campaign in Idlib city, Deir Hassan village, Kalaly in northern of Idlib, Jabal Al-Zawiya and Ariha in southern of Idlib, Al-Atareb town and Al-Sahara village in western of Aleppo and other areas, arresting 18 people on different charges, including “belonging to hizb Al-Tahrir or Horas Al-Dein organization, theft and drug dealing.”

 

• May 9: The General Security of HTS stormed Deir Hassan village, that is considered the most major position for Hizb Al-Tahrir, following the latest events witnessed in the region, where members of the General Security Service launched arbitrary arrest campaigns against four civilians including a child, who confronted members of HTS after the members arrested his relatives, amid breaking down doors of houses and intimidating children and women.

 

• May 10: The General Security Service of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham arbitrarily arrested a media activist, after storming his house in Killi town in the northern countryside of Idlib for unknown reasons. The man was taken to a security centre of HTS and his fate remains unknown.

 

• May 11: members of the HTS-backed General Security Service kidnapped an “Imam” (a preacher in mosques) affiliated with the “Islamic Party of Liberation” in Al-Zouf village in Jisr Al-Shughour in western Idlib. The Imam was taken to an area outside the village, where he was beaten and verbally abused by the general security members for “undermining and criticising Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham and the affiliated General Security Service over the latest arrest campaigns and raids which targeted members of the “Islamic Party of Liberation” in Idlib countryside.

 

• May 12: members of HTS’ General Security Service arrested a civilian, who belongs to Hezb Al-Tahrir, in Taftanaz town north eastern of Idlib, and arrested another member of Hezb Al-Tahrir in Idlib city.

 

• May 13: General security service of “HTS” arrested two young men yesterday, while they were on their way back from Idlib city to Ariha in Idlib countryside.

 

• May 16: Members of the security service of HTS arrested a young man from Kalaly city for “belonging to Hezb Al-Tahrir”, while returning to his house in the city.

 

• May 16: The security service of HTS arrested a military commander of Al-Hamza Division “Al-Hamzat” that belongs to the Turkish-backed National Army, without mentioning the reasons.

 

• May 16: HTS members stationed at a checkpoint near Al-Ghazzawiyah village in Shrawa district in Afrin countryside in north-western Aleppo arrested a civilian from Farkiya village in the southern countryside of Idlib for unknown reasons. The whereabouts of the civilian remains unknown.

 

• May 19: HTS arrested a young man from his workplace for unknown charges, and he was taken to a security centre of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham. It is worth noting that the young man works as a guard in Ain Al-Zarqa in Darkoush village in western Idlib countryside.

 

• May 23: The General Security service in Idlib arrested a civilian from Harbanoush village in northern Idlib, after having been appeared in a video footage on social media while talking about the circumstances of the arrest of his brother by the HTS-backed General Security service in Idlib seven months earlier.

 

• May 24: HTS-backed General Security Service arrested an ex-commander of the Military Council of Al-Sferah city, while he was crossing through Al-Ghazzawiyah checkpoint in Shrawa district in Afrin countryside in “Olive Branch” area, which is administrated by Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham. The man was taken to a security centre of HTS for unknown reasons.

 

• May 25: HTS arrested the jihadist “Abo Al-Sadeek Al-Ferensy” on the frontline of Jabal Al-Zawiya in Idlib countryside, and took him to an unknown destination, without mentioning the reasons behind his arrest. It is worth noting that the jihadist worked the Al-Ghorabaa’ Division, which is led by “Omar Omsin.”

 

• May 25: Members of the General Security service of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham stormed the house of a civilian belonging to the “Islamic Party of Liberation” in Al-Janoudiyah village in Idlib countryside, along with firing bullets in the air, before arresting him arbitrarily. During the raid, the man was beaten and verbally abused and his motorcycle was taken over, before he was taken to unknown destination.

 

• May 30: The General Security service of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham arrested two members of “Al-Sham Corps” in Kafar Takhareem town in the western countryside of Idlib on charge of “dealing with the Turkish intelligence.” The two members were taken to HTS security centres, and their fate remains unknown.

 

• May 30: HTS security services arrested a civilian in Idlib city on charge of “spying for regime forces,” and his fate also remains unknown.

 

• May 30: The General Security service of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham arrested a civilian in Ihsem district in Jabal Al-Zawiyah in the southern countryside of Idlib on charge of “belonging to ISIS.” The civilian was taken to a security centre of HTS.

 

 

Security service executes prisoner accused of “spying”

 

On May 4, members of HTS security service informed the family of an ex-HTS fighter of implementing death sentence against him in the prison, three years after having been arrested for “spying.” The man had been a fighter in the ranks of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham and joined security service, before he abandoned military activities. It is worth noting that family of the executed man have not received his body so far.

 

 

Anti-Julani protests concentrate in six major areas

 

SOHR documented public protests against HTS and its leader, Al-Julani on the 5^th, 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, 15^th, 16^th, 17^th, 21^st, 22^nd, 23^rd, 24^th, 25^th, 26^th, 27^th, 28^th, 29^th and 30^th of May), where the protests took place in 17 days during May.

 

The role of women was shown in these protests in fear of the arrest of men, as women demanded the release of the detainees in prisons of HTS.

 

Harbanosh, Kalaly and Atma camps in Idlib countryside near Syrian-Turkish borders, the compound of Al-Karama camps, Al-Baraka camp, Deir Hassan camp in Idlib countryside and Al-Sahara and Al-Atareb in western Aleppo countryside, witnessed protests.

 

The protestors demanded to overthrow “Al-Golany” and rejected the violations of the security service during the arrest campaign.

 

While on May 30, members of the General Security service of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham opened fire on protestors yesterday in Atmah town in the northern countryside of Idlib, attempting to disperse the protesters who were expressing their rejection of the HTS policy.

 

Meanwhile, members of the General Security service opened fire on a car carrying an individual affiliated to the “Islamic Party of Liberation,” attempting to assassinate him, which caused material damage only.

 

 

Explosion of old ordnance injures children in Idlib countryside

 

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.

 

In this context, three children sustained various wounds on May 22, due to the explosion of an unexploded projectile in Al-Rami town in Idlib countryside.

 

 

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.