Syria’s Idlib Province Remains Calm on Third Day of Ceasefire

For the third day since the ceasefire in Syria’s northwest Idlib Province, calm prevailed in a province that is densely populated with rival rebel factions, and dominated by al-Qaeda’s Nusra Front.

There have been intermittent accusations of violations since the ceasefire began, but no airstrikes reported against Idlib, nor any ground offensives either out of or into the province.

Not that everything is perfectly falling into place. The Nusra Front has continued to reject the idea of withdrawing 20 km, out of the buffer zone negotiated in 2018, but is otherwise complying with the deal.

While this ceasefire may not last forever, it is lasting for now, and that means the people in Idlib City, and other parts of the province that have been stuck with months of fighting, are enjoying a rare period of calm, shopping and generally relaxing from the protracted siege.