Terrorists from the so-called ‘Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’ (ISIL) takfiri group offer weak resistance to the offensive of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) supported by Turkish troops in northern Syria and retreat to the south and southeast, Lt. Gen. Viktor Poznikhir, first deputy chief of Russian General Staff’s Main Operational Department said Wednesday.
On August 24, Turkish forces, backed by US-led coalition aircraft, began a military operation dubbed Euphrates Shield to clear the Syrian border town of Jarabulus and the surrounding area of ISIL. Ankara also pledged to continue the operation until the threat allegedly posed by Kurdish militants active in the area is eliminated.
“In the course of the offensive, the intruding units have advanced to the Syrian territory over a distance of 10-20 kilometers [about 6-12 miles] and are restoring their fighting capabilities and are regrouping,” Poznikhir said at a news briefing in the Defense Ministry.
“We notice periodical armed clashes between the units of the FSA, the Turkish army and Kurdish militias in the area,” Poznikhir added, noting that ISIL terrorists almost did not resist the offensive of the FSA troops in northern Syria and retreat to the south and southeast.
The Russian official said the Defense Ministry has information that terrorists are planning chemical attacks against the Syrian army and residential areas in Aleppo.
“It became known that terrorist groups are preparing provocative attacks by chemical weapons on Syrian army’s positions and residential areas in the east part of Aleppo to accuse government forces [of the attacks],” Poznikhir said.
The cessation of hostilities in Syria was undermined by militant groups that have increased their activities, he added.
“We were ready to prolong the ceasefire regime consistently, striving to extend it indefinitely. At the same time the cessation of hostilities was derailed by militants. Not only did the intensity of shelling of government forces positions [by militants] fail to subside, but the armed groups’ activity increased,” Poznikhir said.
The Russian Defense Ministry said that the situation in Syria has deteriorated as militants have regrouped and launched offensives in Aleppo and Hama provinces.
“As a result of the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic has escalated significantly. In the provinces of Aleppo and Hama, opposition groups, taking advantage of the seven-day truce, replenished the stocks of ammunition and weapons, to regroup and started offensive operations in order to capture new territories.”
Over the last several days, the ceasefire in Syria has teetered on the verge of collapse. Fighting in Aleppo intensified after the Syrian army declared an end to the week-long ceasefire on Friday, blaming rebels for numerous violations that made the cessation of hostilities untenable.
On Tuesday, Syrian government forces liberated most of the al-Farafira district northwest of Aleppo’s historic Old City and advanced the frontline for the first time in years.
Source: Websites
