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Pro-Turkey rebels in north Syria begin withdrawing under deal: monitor
BEIRUT, Sept 30, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Pro-Turkey rebels began Sunday
withdrawing from areas in northern Syria under a deal brokered by Ankara and
Moscow to avert a large-scale military assault on the country’s last major
opposition stronghold, a monitor said.
“Units from Faylaq al-Sham al-Islami began pulling out of areas in the
southern countryside of Aleppo and the western suburbs of Aleppo city with
heavy weapons, including tanks and cannons,” said the Britain-based Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights.
The pullback is in line with a plan agreed this month between regime ally
Russia and rebel backer Turkey to avert a large-scale government offensive on
Idlib province and surrounding rebel territory, which included setting up a
demilitarised zone.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1358 hrs