Syrian President Bashar al-Assad opened a corridor for the Daesh terrorist organization to pass into Idlib, which is a de-escalation zone. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said government forces allowed Daesh to leave a besieged pocket of territory at the intersection of Aleppo, Idlib and Hama provinces, and to go to southern Idlib.
"The regime started the operation against this pocket seven days, suddenly they were able to take 80 villages and towns after giving them a corridor," Observatory Director Rami Abdulrahman said.
As the regime and Daesh advance in Idlib’s southeast, Russia is providing air support against the opposition and anti-Assad groups. Many regions frequently change hands as a result of clashes.
Hasan Haj Ali, commander of the Free Idlib Army opposition group, said his fighters were taking part in clashes with some 200 Daesh terrorists who had arrived in southern Idlib early on Friday.
"This morning at dawn we were surprised by the joint treachery by the regime and Daesh. They have six armored vehicles with them," he said.
The Assad regime and Daesh have formed a tactical agreement to advance against the opposition in Idlib, which is the largest chunk of Syrian territory held by groups opposed to Assad and a de-escalation zone.
In October 2017, the Assad regime opened a path for Daesh in the Hunayfis district east of Hama, ensuring their safe passage into opposition and anti-regime-held areas in Idlib. The coordinated move combined with Russian air support enabled Assad and Daesh to make great advances within three months.
According to map measurements, the regime forces and Daesh seized 3,035 square kilometers of land in the south and southeast of Idlib in three months. Over 100 villages in the area were occupied by the Assad regime and Daesh. As a result, the Syrian army surpassed into the area that was determined by Turkey, Russia and Iran to be a de-escalation zone.
The opposition anti-regime armed groups established a joint operation chamber against the cooperation between Assad and Daesh, taking back four towns in the last week.
Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.
Russia and Turkey, along with Iran are sponsoring the Astana peace talks, which focuses on a cease-fire and ending the Syrian war. They agreed to establish a number of de-escalation zones in Syria during a meeting in Kazakhstan’s capital on May 4.
