Syrian army, rebels exchange fire in Idlib

Damascus, April 4 (IANS) The Syrian army and rebel groups exchanged fire on Saturday in the country’s northwestern province of Idlib as a ceasefire entered the 30th day, a war monitor reported.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that no reports have emerged yet on losses, reports Xinhua news agency.

The Britain-based watchdog group said the Turkish-Russian ceasefire deal entered its 30th day on Saturday amid the absence of airstrikes and warplanes in Idlib.

It said the midnight shelling was a violation of the ceasefire, which is largely holding in that region.

A day earlier, the Syrian and Turkish forces brought in new reinforcement into Idlib, according to the observatory.

The Turkish side sent 35 military vehicles into Turkish military observation points in Idlib on Friday, bringing the overall number of military vehicles that have entered the region since March 5 to 2,225 vehicles and thousands of soldiers.

The observatory also said the Syrian forces brought reinforcement to frontline areas in Idlib.

The ceasefire brokered by Turkey and Russia came into effect on March 5.

Idlib is the last major rebel stronghold in the country and the latest ceasefire was reached after the Turkish and Syrian forces had bouts of fighting in that area.

–IANS

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