A deal to establish a new buffer zone in Idlib Province, in northwestern Syria aims to preclude a military offensive in the area. Thousands of the civilians who fled the area, anticipating the fighting, are starting to return home.
The UN had estimated 38,000 were displaced from Idlib in recent weeks, and reported that 4,500 have returned home since the deal announced earlier this week. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported as many as 7,000 had returned home.
The displacements were not organized initially, with people just fleeing toward the Turkish border. Turkey, of course, does not let refugees across the border anymore, so the displaced tend to just wait things out on the border.
There was never an announcement that an Idlib offensive was happening, but just the rumors were enough to convince many to flee. The deal appears to preclude that offensive, so now people are coming home.
This does not sound like such a great deal to me .Has the United States forced Assad to leave almost a 100,000 rebel terrorists in Ilib ? These rebels have not been forced to lay down their weapons and forced to agree to surrender . So they very likely will continue to act as gorillia forces and continue the Jihad .against Syria . I can’t imagine Assad will be able to protect the Syrian people with these Jihadist still running free . Assad has them surrounded and enough power to make them give up . He must force them to face punishment for their crimes committed against his country . He can forgive them after they surrender . But not before winning the war . Anything other than victory for Assad is victory for the terrorists .