Militants of the Russian-banned terrorist group Jabhat al-Nusra have shelled the Serakab checkpoint in Idlib, the personnel of the checkpoint's administration have been evacuated. This was reported at a briefing on Wednesday by Vyacheslav Sytnik, deputy head of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of the Warring Parties in Syria.
"On February 24, militants of the Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group fired mortars at the Serakab checkpoint and also struck using an improvised unmanned aerial vehicle," Sytnik said.
According to him, the command of the Russian group decided to evacuate the personnel of the checkpoint administration. Sytnik did not specify whether there were any casualties. He again called on the command of the Turkish troops controlling the territories in northwestern Syria to ensure the safety of civilians wishing to pass through the checkpoint.
Earlier, Sytnik reported that the militants in Syria prohibit civilians to leave the territory of the Idlib de-escalation zone and the lands controlled by the Turkish armed forces through the open checkpoints. He recalled that the Serakab, Miznaz and Abu Azeydin checkpoints opened on February 22 so that Syrian civilians could leave the de-escalation zone of Idlib and the territory controlled by the Turkish Armed Forces. However, radical militants are blocking the operation of checkpoints, forbidding locals to travel to SAR-controlled territory at the threat of weapons as well as arrest, he said.
SANA news agency reported on Wednesday a mortar shell fired by the terrorist group's fighters on the Tronba-Saraqib humanitarian corridor. According to the agency, the shelling was carried out "in order to prevent civilians from leaving areas that are under the control of the gangs." According to its information, there were no reports of casualties.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Felipe Dana / AP / TASS
Based on materials from TASS