SANA -- Syria's state news agency -- has a reporter's eyewitness account and photos of civilians safely returning to their homes via a humanitarian corridor opened Monday by Syrian and Russian troops. A FARS report is claiming HTS terrorists are blocking the corridor exit in order to use the evacuees, at least the male ones, as human shields, and seizing vehicles the civilians are using to drive through the corridor.
It's possible the SAA/RU forces cleared the corridor before the SANA reporter arrived but the FARS report is time-stamped 5:15; I'll assume that's afternoon. I've posted both reports below.
It's possible the SAA/RU forces cleared the corridor before the SANA reporter arrived but the FARS report is time-stamped 5:15; I'll assume that's afternoon. I've posted both reports below.
August 20, 2018 [no time stamp]
SANA
[see website for more photos]
Aleppo, SANA – Hundreds of civilians who had been displaced from their houses in towns and villages in the southern countryside of Aleppo Province are turning back after the Syrian Arab Army had cleansed them of terrorism.
The displaced civilians are coming from the areas under control of terrorist organizations in Idleb Province through Abu al-Dhuhour towards their houses in the liberated towns and villages.
A SANA reporter said that civilians are coming on foot, by cars and tractors via the Abu al-Dhuhour corridor, to the far southeast of Idleb countryside, adding that a medical point was provided by the authorities under supervision of Syrian Arab Red Crescent and Internal Security Forces to supply the returnees with health services, relief aid and food aid.
[END REPORT]
August 20, 2018 - 5:15
FARS
TEHRAN (FNA)- Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at (the Levant Liberation Board or the Al-Nusra Front) terrorists are blocking exit of the civilian population from Southeastern Idlib via a humanitarian corridor set up by the Syrian Army.
Tahrir al-Sham has blocked men, especially the youth, at the gates to Abu al-Dhohour corridor in an apparent move to use the civilian population as a shield against an impending major assault by the Syrian army.
Tahrir al-Sham has also seized vehicles of the residents to prevent their possible riding to escape to government-controlled regions.
People in Idlib had been calling on the army to set up a safe corridor for them to leave the terrorist-held regions.
The Syrian and Russian force managed to open Abu al-Dhohour passageway on Monday to ease evacuation of the people.
In the meantime, terrorists failed on Saturday to evacuate people from regions near the positions of the Syrian Army in Aleppo province to settle them in regions deep in the militant-held territories to prevent the spread of the growing public support for the army and implementation of a reconciliation plan in Northwestern Syria.
Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at gave a two-day ultimatum to the residents of the villages of Jazraya, al-Othmaniyeh, Howeir al-Eis, Zamar, Jadida Talafaj, Banes, Tal Bajer and Barnah near the positions of the army forces to leave their region.
Tahrir al-Sham has declared the villages near army positions as military zone to prevent people from joining the peace agreement.
Villagers defied the call, stating to Tahrir al-Sham through their local councils that they will never leave their home.
Tahrir al-Sham has recently arrested a number of people, accusing them of promoting the army's peace plan.
[END REPORT]
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